The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has inaugurated a colposcopy machine at Wuse General Hospital, marking a milestone in the fight against cervical cancer.
Speaking at the commissioning event, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment Secretariat, described the facility as the first of its kind in FCT general hospitals. She highlighted its role as a referral center for public and private hospitals within the territory, designed to provide early detection and treatment for cervical cancer.
“This facility enables a ‘see-and-treat’ approach, which is essential for preventing cervical cancer,” Fasawe explained. She noted that cervical cancer is Nigeria’s third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women aged 15-44 years. In 2020 alone, the country recorded 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths.
Dr. Fasawe commended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for prioritizing healthcare initiatives, including HPV vaccination campaigns aimed at reducing cervical cancer prevalence. She also expressed gratitude to Nordica Fertility Centre for donating the colposcopy machine and urged other stakeholders to support healthcare development.
She emphasized the importance of regular screenings, explaining that cervical cancer has a pre-malignant phase lasting 10-15 years, which provides a critical window for early detection. Available screening methods include Pap smears and colposcopy, the latter being particularly effective for women with abnormal Pap smear results or other symptoms like unusual vaginal bleeding or postcoital bleeding.
The colposcopy suite allows medical professionals to detect and treat abnormal lesions, perform biopsies, and offer timely interventions, reducing the risk of patients being lost to follow-up care.
The Medical Director of Wuse General Hospital, Dr. Oluseyi Ashaolu, announced that colposcopy services would be free for female staff of FCT general hospitals until January 2025. Specialists in gynecologic oncology will oversee the procedures, providing treatments such as thermal ablation, LEEP, or definitive surgeries as needed.
Dr. Ashaolu encouraged women of reproductive age to utilize the facility, stressing that early screening and treatment can prevent unnecessary deaths from cervical cancer. He assured the public of the procedure’s safety and effectiveness in detecting abnormal cell growth in the cervix, vagina, and vulva.
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