First Lady takes cancer fight to KU

First Lady Gertrude Mutharika on Wednesday took her cancer awareness initiative to Kasungu to drum up support for the reduction of deaths of women caused by the disease.

Speaking in Kasungu at Chankhozi Primary School ground, Mutharika said as simple as it may sound, cervical cancer is claiming many lives of women in the country and there is need for women to champion the fight against the disease.

“When we talk about cervical cancer, it sounds simple but this is a disease which is claiming many lives of women in the country. Malawi is actually number one if not number two as a country with high deaths caused by cervical cancer.

“Those that have not been screened should do so. There is a chance for them to be screened in hospitals,” Mutharika said.

She said is important for women to know the condition of their bodies rather than speculating whether they have cervical cancer or not.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secretary general Greselder Jeffrey who joined the First Lady in the awareness meeting, said it is important for women to live a healthy life because they are key to community development.

She hailed the First Lady for reaching out to many women in the country with cervical cancer awareness messages.

She also commended government for its efforts in ending any form of cancer.

During the meeting, officials from Kasungu District Health Office made presentations on family planning methods, managing cholera, esophageal cancer and breast cancer.