Malawi tops list on death from cervical cancer

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Malawi Hospitals

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said many women in the country are still dying due to cervical cancer.

According to WHO, 1600 women die annually because of the disease.

Speaking during the launch of second phase of cancer screening by SOS Children’s Villages Malawi, Disease Prevention and Control Officer of WHO Dr Kelias Msyamboza said Malawi tops the list on cervical cancer rates globally.

Dr Kelias Msyamboza
Dr Kelias Msyamboza making a presentation during the event.

“Cervical cancer in Malawi is the commonest cancer in women and actually globally. In terms of the burden of the disease Malawi is actually the worst. Every year it is estimated that over 2300 women are diagnosed with Cervical Cancer and over 1600 die of it,” he said.

Elaborating on why Malawi tops the list, Msyamboza said there are factors that are causing cervical cancer to be alarming in the country.

He said that some of the reasons are that Malawi tracks the disease well compared to its neighbours such as Mozambique.

“There are quite a number of factors, number one is that in Malawi we are able to produce data, so we have good data since 2011 and that is giving us a clear picture on where we are compared to other countries,” he said.

“The second reason is the risk factors, of course there are also in other countries like Zambia and Mozambique. This is the connection between HIV prevalence in women and also Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) prevalence are quite high in Sub Saharan region where Malawi is found,” he added.

On prevention of cervical cancer Msyamboza said there are primary, secondary and tertiary preventions.

Malawian women are still dying due to cervical cancer. (File)

On primary prevention, he gave an example of use of HPV Vaccines as it has be done by a demonstration project which has been successfully implemented in Zomba and Rumphi districts.

On secondary prevention, he said that one of the ways is cervical cancer screening using visual inspection.

Voluntary Male Medical Circumcision (VMMC) and HIV prevention and treatment are the tertiary preventive measures, according to Msyamboza.

Asked on why cervical cancer attacks women, Msyamboza said that men are carriers of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer.

He the urged all men to go for Voluntary Male Medical Circumcision to avoid passing the virus to women during sexual intercourse since the virus is sexually transmitted.

 

 

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32 Comments

  1. Real world offers difference evidences:
    Mozambique is one of countries with the highest HIV prevalence in adults. But, despite the many millions of dollars spent on preventing the spread of HIV, and having attained 63% circumcised men (age group 15 to 49) since VMMC implementation programs, the disease is continuing to advance in Mozambique.

    May 2017 Mozambique News

    1. Mozambique: HIV Prevalence Rate Rises in Mozambique
    Prevalência do HIV aumenta para 13,2 por cento em Moçambique
    http://www.portaldogoverno….
    http://www.jornalnoticias.c

    In English http://allafrica.com/storie

    2. Mozambique reaches 63% male circumcision threshold
    CIRCUNCISÃO MASCULINA ATINGE 63 POR CENTO
    http://noticias.sapo.mz/aim
    In English: http://clubofmozambique.com

    The truth is that unfortunately, HIV continues scalating in Africa, and VMMC is a waste of time and resources. It just doesn’t work.
    White men experiments with African People.
    Shame on them !!

  2. There are countries that don’t circumcise which have cervical cancer rates among the lowest on earth.

    The solution is education and access to preventative screening. Clearly there are Malawians who have the terribly misguided notion that condoms CAUSE disease. The government needs to help fight these crazy ideas.

    1. These guys they don’t bring good things in Africa, am wondering nowadays kuti akumalimbikisa achinyamata kuti aziuser njira za kulera ndiye langa funso linali loti munthu sanalowe m’banja akauser bwanji njira za kulera , ? ndipo yankho ndinalipeza nkufufuza kwanga ndiloti akkufuna kupheratu achinyamata tonse

    2. Condoms don’t cause cervical cancer, they help *protect against it*. They also protect men and women against STIs. People in Europe like sex just as much as Africans, we use a lot more condoms than Africans, and we have lower rates of cervical cancer and STIs.

  3. it’s simple as just getting a circumcision but we would rather not have the pain for few weeks but let our women just die like that, shameful.

    1. It’s *not* that simple though. There are lots of countries which don’t circumcise, but have lower rates of cervical cancer than countries which do. In Europe, almost no-one is circumcised unless their parents are Jewish or Muslim, but cervical cancer rates are far lower than most African countries.

      A 2003 paper in the Israeli Medical Association Journal discusses male circumcision and cervical cancer at length and says the following:

      “Although the dispute over the association of circumcision and cervical cancer in various populations is still ongoing, there seems to be no hard evidence that circumcision prevents its occurrence in Jewish women, and it is no longer considered to play a protective role.”
      (pubmed 12674663)

  4. Claiming that circumcision prevents a health problem is a compulsion of circumcised men to have done to others what was done to them. Historically, this compulsion has led to over 200 potential health claims for circumcision. All have been refuted. Thirteen national and international organizations recommend against circumcision. Search “circumcision information summary” to learn why.

    The foreskin has various functions that contribute to sexual experience for both partners. It contains thousands of nerves and expands sensitivity. Cutting it off is like cutting off a thumb believing the hand will work better. Search “functions of the foreskin.”

    Many professionals have criticized the studies claiming that circumcision reduces HIV transmission. The investigators did not seek to determine the source of the HIV infections during their studies. They assumed all infections were heterosexually transmitted.

    Many HIV infections in Africa are transmitted by contaminated injections and surgical procedures. The absolute rate of HIV transmission reduction is only 1.3%, not the claimed 60%. Even if the claim were true, based on the studies, about 60 men had to be circumcised to prevent one HIV infection.

    Authorities that cite the studies have other agendas including political and financial. All other national and international organizations that have positions on circumcision oppose it. Research shows that circumcision causes physical, sexual, and psychological harm, reducing the sexual pleasure of both partners. This harm is ignored by circumcision advocates. Other methods to prevent HIV transmission (e.g., condoms and sterilizing medical instruments) are much more effective, much cheaper, and much less invasive. Even HIV/circumcision studies advise using condoms. With condoms circumcision adds no benefit to HIV prevention.

    Circumcision will not be “voluntary” when it is forced on children. For more information see HIV page under Medical Issues at circumcision dot org.

  5. A 2003 paper in the Israeli Medical Association Journal (pubmed 12674663) discusses male circumcision and cervical cancer at length and says the following:

    “Although the dispute over the association of circumcision and cervical cancer in various populations is still ongoing [23,24], there seems to be no hard evidence that circumcision prevents its occurrence in Jewish women, and it is no longer considered to play a protective role.”

  6. that cancer is made in hospitals by family planning injections and other stuffs,they just take advantage because malawi is poor

      1. 1) Injectible contraception doesn’t cause cervical cancer, it just stops women getting pregnant.
        2) Condoms don’t cause cervical cancer, they help *protect against it*. They also protect men and women against STIs. People in Europe like sex just as much as Africans, we use a lot more condoms than Africans, and we have lower rates of cervical cancer and STIs.

  7. Women and girls between 15-44 years must go for cervical cancer screening notably women in multiple relationships. Women sleeping with uncircumcised men are also in danger.
    Girls who start having sex at an early age are also at risk.

    Women and girls go for early screening. It helps and can save your life

    1. Cervical cancer screening is a great idea, but circumcision isn’t.

      There are lots of countries which don’t circumcise, but have lower rates of cervical cancer than countries which do. In Europe, almost no-one is circumcised unless their parents are Jewish or Muslim, but cervical cancer rates are far lower than most African countries.

      A 2003 paper in the Israeli Medical Association Journal (pubmed 12674663) discusses male circumcision and cervical cancer at length and says the following:
      “Although the dispute over the association of circumcision and cervical cancer in various populations is still ongoing [23,24], there seems to be no hard evidence that circumcision prevents its occurrence in Jewish women, and it is no longer considered to play a protective role.”

  8. We as a country are responsible for our own success and failures … if we continue stealing, killing and backbiting because of the lust for power and resources the stats for extrem poverty will continually overwhelm us and beat us down to our knees … but nevertheless it’s not too late to make a change if we can develop the ryt attitude and work towards developing our country for the good of every citizen.

  9. Ntchito za ma nurse izi koma kuwalepheresa council,,,,cervical cancer ikhale nchocho Malawi govt mix nurses council imuziwe Jah jah,,,, zimandikhuza hvy

  10. U could ve used a better picture, bele lili pamtunda choncho, did u seek permission from this woman?

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