The Management of Rivers Ports, Port Harcourt Rivers State in collaboration with the Ports’ medical department and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have successfully organised a one-day awareness campaign to tackle the prevalence of cervical cancer among women, particularly the female staff of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
The awareness programme which took place at the Nigerian Ports Authority’s Christian Fellowship Centre, attracted women, Nigerian Ports Authority staff and other stakeholders of the ports as no fewer than 120 females staff of Nigerian Ports Authority benefited from the awareness campaign.
Speaking during the awareness campaign programme, Carolyn Akum Ufere, the ports manager, Rivers Ports Complex, who was represented by the chief medical officer, expressed gratitude for the anti-cervical cancer campaign.
Akum Ufere reminded the participants about the importance of heath, adding that the prevention of diseases at all times is better and more cost effective than to cure it.“This is a rare opportunity given by Nigerian ports authority management, as a way of promoting the well being and heath of its workers,” she stated.
The chief executive noted that the Nigerian Ports Authority management was always interested in workers’ well being, especially on the health of women.
In her presentation, Augustina Ukandu of the medical department NPA, Port Harcourt described as alarming the danger posed by cervical cancer in the life of women and urged them to take advantage of the programme to undergo screening.
According to a lead paper presented, cervical cancer is described as a cancer of the cervix (the neck of the womb), usually caused by an infection related to a common virus called Human Papiloma Virus (HPV). The analysis explained that the medical condition is caught during sexual activities with multiple sexual partners, early age marriage, sexually transmitted diseases, scourge of HIV and poverty.
Discussing the symptoms of the ailment further, it was also revealed that cervical cancer does not come without notice. Its basic symptoms or signs include vaginal discharge, bleeding after intercourse, irregular menstrual flow and coital bleeding.
Saby Elemba
