Health - Barclays Bank has implored women to access cervical cancer screening services to fight the scourge. Copperbelt area manager, Grace Mulatu said for many types of cancers, progress in the areas of screening and treatment had offered promise for earlier detection and higher cure rates.
Ms Mulatu said during the Secondary Schools Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) educational programme in Chingola at the weekend that statistics indicated that survival from cervical cancer was possible if it was detected in its earliest stage.
She said all that was needed was for women to take a step and access the cancer services available at the nearest health centres.
'What is sad to note is that despite the availability of the cancer screening services, very few women are accessing them.
'This simply means that more needs to be done in the area of sensitising women on this deadly disease,' she said.
Ms Mulatu commended SESTUZ for sensitising some of its members on the importance of cervical cancer screening.
She said if many women were empowered with information, it would help in disputing the myths that surrounded the disease, hence enabling more women to have the courage to go for screening.
And Stella Himabala from Nchanga North Hospital urged men and women to avoid the risk factors of cervical cancer.
Dr Himabala said multiple sexual partners, sex at a younger age and lack of pap smear tests were some of the risk factors of cervical cancer.
She encouraged women to undergo cervical cancer screening and to ensure that one had good nutrition to prevent the disease.
She also advised women to avoid multiple sexual partners.
Dr Himabala gave a talk on what cervical cancer was, its causes, treatment and cure rates, among other topics.
Barclays Bank has partnered with SESTUZ to conduct an educational programme on cervical cancer as part of its corporate social responsibility and in line with the international Women's Day, which fell on March 8.
By Maya Ntanda
The Times of Zambia/11/03/2013