By Kemi Olatunde
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Not less than 377 women suffering from cervical cancer have been treated in the last one year, free of charge by the Ondo State Government in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
This was made known at the Cervical Cancer secondary prevention sensitization meeting by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pharm (Mrs) Folukemi Aladenola in Akure.
While giving the keynote address at the event, the Permanent Secretary affirmed that a total of 4,470 women were screened in the state, out of which 390 tested positive and 377 women of those affected were treated.
She noted that the screening took place in 10 facilities across the state between July and December 2022, stating it was at no cost to patients.
Aladenola explained that as a result of the high positivity rate of 8.8 percent for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the state has intensified more efforts to test more women in more facilities across the state.
The Permanent secretary sought for the support of the World Health Organisation stating that “we need your full cooperation especially in the area of creating awareness in our different communities so that our women can troop to the designated facilities in good numbers.”
She emphasized that the fight against cervical cancer among women was a collaborative effort, while describing cervical cancer as the forth most common cancer among women.
She appreciated the governor of the state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his passion towards healthcare delivery and for championing the fight against cancer among women in the state.
The State Director of the World Health Organization, Dr Dale David, in his goodwill message, pledged the commitment of his organization to continue to provide assistance to the state.
