Halleluya Clinic observes Cervical Cancer Month

Marble Hall

In concerted efforts to fight the scourge of cervical cancer among women, Halleluyah Clinic at Schoonbee Landgoed Farms outside Marble Hall, has on Monday 11 September, organized a Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign, set to educate the public about regular pap smear that can save lives.

Health professionals from around parts of Sekhukhune, farm workers and residents from nearest farms and villages attended the awareness campaign.

The campaign was aiming to raise awareness to women about ways of preventing the burden of cervical cancer through prevention, by identifying early symptoms and early treatment.

According to the National Department of Health, approximately 3000 women die of cervical cancer every year, a disease that can be prevented though a vaccine.

Addressing the campaign, Sister Maphefo Maepa, informed that cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in South Africa after breast cancer.

She encouraged women, notably girls, to take Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer.

“Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer could include vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse, vaginal bleeding after menopause, and vaginal bleeding between periods or periods that are heavier or longer than normal. Vaginal discharge that is watery and has a strong odour or that contains blood, pelvic pain or pain during sexual intercourse could also be signs of cervical cancer,” she said.

Maepa recommended that women, from the ages of 36 to 65, should regularly visit health facilities for pap smear, however, encouraging that if they see the symptoms before the age of 30 they would also have to go for pap smear frequently.

Sister Filda Mokobake, a staff nurse at Halleluyah Clinic, stressed that women should consider preventing cervical cancer instead of waiting to be diagnosed and treated for the disease.

“Cervical cancer can often be prevented by having regular screenings with Pap smear tests and HPV tests. This will help to find any precancerous cells that cause HPV which leads to cervical cancer. It can also be prevented by receiving the HPV Vaccine as well as lifestyle modifications,” explained Mokobake.

She emphasized that it is important for women to go for Pap smear and HPV tests on regular basis, citing that Halleluyah Clinic is one of the facilities that can help them with regular check-ups and treatment.

“We are opened for Pap smear and HPV test from Monday to Friday and results are available within 24hours,” she said.