Mangochi students undergo cervical cancer screening

Community of Saint’ Egidio’s Disease Relief through Excellent and Advanced Means (Dream) with Mangochi District Health Office (DHO) on Monday started screening girls from colleges, primary and secondary schools for cervical cancer.

The exercise comes after the district launched the awareness campaign on Friday at St.Agustine II Primary School. Some of the activities included a march from St. Monica Round About to St. Augustine II Primary School by St. Monica Community Day Secondary School and Mangochi Secondary School students.

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) country director Havard Hovdhaugen, whose organisation is funding Dream on the project, said he was satisfied with its progress.

“Since we partnered with Dream, we have seen more women being screened in cervical cancer in the areas the organisation is implementing the project,” he said.

Mangochi District Hospital gynaecologist Gonjetso Kumpatsa said the district’s cervical cancer prevalence was high and needs more screening exercises.

“We want more women and girls to be screened because that is the only way the disease can be detected and cured at its early stage.  If the cancer reaches advanced stage, it cannot be cured,” he said. Dream district project coordinator for Mangochi, Darlington Thole said they targeted the education sector because it was left behind.