Akyempim (W/R), Oct. 14, GNA – Mrs Wilhemina Tiwaah Duah Morttey, the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Director of Health, has revealed that three cases of cervical cancer have been reported in Tarkwa this year.
She said women might not experience symptoms of the disease until it reached advanced stages where it’s difficult for health professionals to provide timely treatment.
Mrs Morttey said this during the launch of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine campaign against cervical cancer for girls between the ages of nine and 14 years at Akyempim, in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.
The theme for the event was “Cervical cancer is preventable. Let us give our girls a healthy future.”
She said in Ghana, cervical cancer was a major threat to women, ranking as the second most prevalent cancer.
According to the director “Every year 600,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 350,000 lose their lives to the disease, adding “Let us take action to ensure our children do not suffer from this disease.”
Mrs Morttey pointed out that “Some parents have warned school authorities not to vaccinate their children, stressed that, this could put them at risk, hence they should stop.”
She assured parents that all girls who received the vaccine were less likely to develop cervical cancer when they grow up.
Mr Stephen Adjei, the Senior Manager-Sustainability, AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, in a speech read on his behalf said the theme was a call to action and a reminder that prevention was key.
He said “Our girls are the future leaders, mothers, and professionals. Protecting and nurturing them is one of the greatest contributions we can make to our country’s prosperity.”
Mr Adjei lauded the Ghana Health Service for its leadership and dedication to this important cause, and expressed gratitude to the Municipal Health Directorate, Assembly, community leaders, teachers, and parents for embracing the vaccination campaign.
He said Iduapriem Mine would work with other partners to ensure no girl in their communities suffers from preventable illness, adding
“Let us work together to promote healthy living and empower our communities through preventable healthcare,” he said.
Mrs Catherine Biney, Municipal Director of Education, added that, “Our focus has always been on malaria because it is deadly, but now we see cancers devastating impact.”
She explained that by protecting the youth from cervical cancer, they were securing the nation’s future leaders.
Mrs Biney thanked the researchers who had worked tirelessly to find a solution and hoped this solution would help the women to overcome the disease and live to achieve their dreams.
GNA
Edited by Justina Paaga/ Christabel Addo