The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has taken a major step to combat cervical cancer in women by launching a colposcopy machine for early detection and treatment.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Mandate of the Ministry of Health and Environment, Bola Ajao, stated that during the commissioning and inspection of the colposcopy machine recently donated by the Nordica Fertility Centre, Abuja, the Secretary of the Mandate of the Secretary of Health and Environment Services, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, highlighted the importance of the facility.
“This is the first colposcopy center for general hospitals in the FCT and will also serve as a referral center for all public and private hospitals in the FCT,” he said. “It provides the opportunity to 'see and treat' early changes in the cervix, which helps prevent cervical cancer.”
Dr. Fasawe emphasized that cervical cancer is a major health problem in Nigeria. It is the third most common cancer and the second cause of cancer-related death among women ages 15 to 44. He noted that in 2020, Nigeria recorded 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue.
He commended FCT Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike for his dedication to improving healthcare through various initiatives, including promoting HPV vaccination to reduce the burden of the disease and protect women's health.
Dr. Fasawe also expressed his gratitude to the Nordica Fertility Center for the donation and called on other partners and organizations to support the government in building a more effective healthcare system.
He explained that cervical cancer has a premalignant phase that lasts between 10 and 15 years, which offers a critical window for early detection and treatment. Women of reproductive age were encouraged to undergo regular examinations to avoid unnecessary deaths.
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Available screening methods include the Papanicolaou (Pap) test and the more advanced colposcopy procedure, which is particularly useful for women with:
Abnormal Pap test results
Unusual vaginal bleeding
Abnormal cervical lesions, or
Postcoital bleeding.
According to her, the colposcopy room allows healthcare providers to detect and treat lesions early, perform biopsies of suspicious areas and offer timely interventions to women who might otherwise be lost to follow-up.
The Medical Director of Wuse General Hospital, Dr. Oluseyi Ashaolu, announced that to encourage the use of the facilities, the Secretariat has approved free colposcopy services for all female staff of FCT General Hospitals until January 2025.
Dr. Ashaolu added that the procedures would be performed by gynecologic oncology specialists and that patients with abnormal findings would receive appropriate treatments, including thermal ablation, loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), or definitive surgeries, as necessary.
He urged women of reproductive age to take advantage of the facility, stating that colposcopy is a safe and effective method to detect abnormal cell growth in the cervix, vagina and vulva. Early detection and treatment, he emphasized, are crucial to preventing cervical cancer.