The World Health Organization says Zambia and Tanzania have the highest incidence of cancer of the cervix in Africa. From Lusaka, Zambia, Voice of America English to Africa Service reporter Danstan Kaunda said the two countries have established a joint team to help with its early detection and treatment.
Doctors at the largest public health institution in Zambia, the University Teaching Hospital, diagnose more than two thousand cases of cervical cancer each year. Most of them die.
Medical experts attribute cervical cancer in part, to immune systems weakened by HIV. Smoking also may be a cause. Medical professionals think more Zambian women are at risk since the country has over three million women over 15 years of age.
Dr Swebby Macha is a cervical cancer specialist at the University Teaching Hospital. He says the joint team is working on creating preventive and treatment strategies in the two countries.
They will begin with simple and inexpensive screening methods that do not require laboratories. The team will also look at inexpensive tools that will test for cervical cancer in rural areas.
One basic low-cost clinical screening program that has worked successfully uses vinegar to detect the cancer.
Dr. Macha says women can do cancer screening themselves at home:
“It is a simple five-minute procedure, where vinegar can be applied to the cervix by a woman herself. Those cells of the cervix that are developing early cancer turn white. In such a case, we send a woman to do further testing at the health institution. And indeed, if it is confirmed cancer, then we burn off or freeze the cells.”
Thirty percent of all detected cases of cancer in Zambia are considered to be serious and require surgery. Other cases are fatal.
But widespread screening for cancer in most African countries is difficult to achieve, partly because of the poorly functioning health-care system.
And there is a problem regarding experts in examining microscopic cells. Dr. Macha says, “There are shortages of lab experts called cytologists in the country – even for us at UTH [University Teaching Hospital] we only have one cytologist expert. So we are trying to establish a cytologist school in the country. ”
A report by the US-based Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics offers another reason for the deaths caused by cervix cancer: many African countries do not consider screening a top health priority.
Zambia has the second highest incidence of cancer of the cervix in the sub-Saharan region and sixth highest in the world.
VOA
too much ukutontesha ba gelo ba pa Zed!
Sad news but i think we have also a good detection rate which other countries dont have
Ifwefyonse ni one of highest. Poverty one of the highest, AIDS and yeah for good measure our fuel prices.
That is why I am on the boat to Durban-chartered cruise lol! Ho Ho Ho.
Are there any signs of Cervical cancer that one can see before the situation gets out of hand?
most zambian women don’t smoke as much as those in the west. so could it be ma nkwala amu porridge??
If it is true then these are things the government should be looking at. How about buying jabs for those young active girls? Insetaed of busy buying sugar natu “honda” for tu chifito buy votes this is where the money should be going.
By the way even Nyama Soya`s girl should have a jab.
Only Father Christmas will make a difference. Ho Ho Ho.
On the boat.
1. The lack of civil edcuation on the importance of periodical pap smears
2. The use unconventional methods to enhance sex drive.
3. Female genital mutilation
Ba LT eyashani iyi. Mulebika ka photo kamukashi wandi no mwanawandi apa zoona! Necitenge namupokele kuli Mazoka. lol!
Pa bwato.
Women dont talk openly about the genitalia issues thus giving a genreal impression that all is well. Its unfortunate Pastula and other diseases are kept in the dark by most women for fear of loosing their partners until its beyond cure.
That is why it is recommended that every woman have a smear test twice a year.
Humor is very welcome, especially when the topic calls for it! I don’t see how someone is able to link the current topic with silly jocks. Some people will never grow up!
When are we going to have the vaccine for preventing cervical cancer in women in Zambia. I hear in Europe and America girls are now going for the jab to prevent this cervical cancer which is caused by the papiloma virus.
The other remedy to reduce this cancer is to make sure every man is circumcised. Since it is belived men with foreskins are the major carriers of the papiloma virus.
I think the only way zambia will be able to conquer cervical cancer is by a serious awareness program of safer sex and abstinence in the young generation.and the fight should be by both men and women.ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION.
Problems with Zambian ladies is that they use portions and other herbs that they smear to their genitals believing that such will satisfy men in sex encounters. The other is the use of flavoured condoms. Why should sex smile like a banana or an orange? Those artificial flavours are chemicals which casinogenic (cause cancer)and they should not be introduced to male of female genitals because those are tender tissues and so are susceptible to irritation by these chemical flavours. That way the anatomy of these tissue cells will start changing resulting in mutations to cancerous cells. Be natural in anything you do and you won’t have complications!
# 14 i agree with you. we men are still having multiple sex partners which am told is one way of transmitting cervical cancer. ( you can use condoms on one but not all the ladies guys please play it safe)
Guyz kanshi mwalisambilira, all this knowledge. Im imprest but why cant you do the same to come on the boat and exibt the same knowledge.
sad fo our zed women.as zambians generally have poor health seeking behaviours,only tends to seek medical attention when the situation is almost out hand,eg,a mother notices her baby’s high body temperature but will opt to first attend a kitchen party,and then @ midnight decides to the baby to UTH.almost three Qs of cases seek medical help when they experiencing abnormal features such as bleeding,foul smelling V discharge,to mention a few.as grown up males and females,we MUST periodically have full medical exams including such tests as hiv,PAP smears,BP exams etc.as such,at public health level,there is a lot that needs to be done at sensitisation or indeed primary preventive measures.
# 17 we are in the boat, here we are just analyzing what we will do when we are in power to help our poor wives. We shall build a cytologist school first week of December 2008
# 2 Makes sense. I hate statistics that alarm the nation without taking into consideration other factors that would be responsible for such statistics. There is the issue of detection methods and number of cases reported. Maybe other countries fail to detect the cancer and maybe in other countries women with such symptoms do not avail themselves for detection. Therefore it would be very misleading to give such a statistic without taking such into consideration.
LT where have you been, this report has been out for over a month, please check your sources so that they do not give you stale information
HIV has contributed greatly to the high cerivical cancer previlence.
latest from Zurich, world cup groups its Zambia, Rwanda, Algeria, Egypt
Dr. Macha says women can do cancer screening themselves at home:
“It is a simple five-minute procedure, where vinegar can be applied to the cervix by a woman herself. Those cells of the cervix that are developing early cancer turn white. In such a case, we send a woman to do further testing at the health institution. And indeed, if it is confirmed cancer, then we burn off or freeze the cells.”
How does she get the damn vineger up her canal and how does she see the reaction of these cells? ba docta eshani
Soccer lovers ,Zambia will play Egypt,algeria and Rwanda
#13 Are you a man or a woman? I guess you’re a woman. coz your talking says it all. Can you just give one source of your data and I’l believe that.
# 21, we are aware of the report but at least its something different from politics and insults
Health and education are the first priorities in the UPND manifesto. So vote wisely next week to detect such occurrences early before the entire country is wiped out.
#9 what is pastula?
#26
A study in other african counrties where marjority of the male poulation is circumccised have very few cases of cervical cancer and HIV.
#29 Meant Fistula in #9
# 3 mambala wansekesha, ati fyonse fye ni one of the highest, ubuchende, basakala, ubupina, ubuloshi, child molesters, imagine ukya upa fye akeshikulu kobe sure. amama neo.
#26 Mundiya Sikatana, it doesn’t matter whether I am a man or woman. We should just be concerned on how to find a remedy for cervical cancer.
whch country has the second highest number. And wich is he 3rd. We need such info ba LT
#3 what do you expect when you rely on retirees to work for Zambia?When you are always going backwards 30 yrs ago when sata was functional but now he is dysfunctional yet you are crying for that 30 yrs ago.Recycled goods are not as good as new ones.Hence no complaints lets pay the price
#13. Kamongoche you know something. But vote with your conscience.
Zambia has No leadership to look to for morals.
A human papillomavirus (HPV) is a papillomavirus that infects the skin and mucous membranes of humans. Approximately 130 HPV types have been identified. Some HPV types can cause warts (verrucae) or cancer, while others have no symptoms.
About 30-40 HPV types are typically transmitted through sexual contact and infect the anogenital region. Some sexually transmitted HPV types may cause genital warts, while others do not cause any noticeable signs of infection….
Sourse (Wikipedia).
#33 Good boy.
studies have also showed that unprotected sex with an uncircumcised man increases the chances of contracting cervical cancer, maybe its time ‘new start’ received more men who want to remove their bell ends!!!
Lack of access to screening, treatment, and care facilities, in reality the process is much more complex. In Africa, cervical cancer is a disease that occurs in women who frequently live within a social context where their human rights are severely restricted, malnutrition is rampant, clean water is a rare commodity and sewer systems. Each case of cervical cancer thus represents one of the greatest public health failures of our times.
Vote for H H he has the best idea to good health
Pa Bwato wechana!
Are you sure with your statistics Dr Macha?? Much as i welcome research in medical health i don’t agree with results that seem to be one sided.For example how do you attribute smoking to women in Zambia? I hate to hear that Dr Macha is being used by some researcher in the USA with links to a company that wants to find market for its products in Zambia.
these condoms that come in must be checked
The draw for the final round of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations has taken place in Zurich, with Egypt being handed what many would consider to be the best of the five group draws.
The African champions will face Algeria, Zambia and Rwanda in Group D as they attempt to reach their third World Cup finals.
Cameroon, the highest ranked African country, were drawn against Morocco, Gabon and Togo.
Ghana will face Benin, who have cruised through the qualifiers to date, as well as Mali and Sudan.
Nigeria will face Tunisia, Kenya, and Mozambique, while 2006 World Cup finalists Ivory Coast will meet Guinea, Burkina Faso and Malawi.
The 20 African nations remaining
Tuli mubwatooooooooooooooooooooo
problem is, Girls like opening their legs widely at a tender age.
and men are fond of chasing after any skirt they see and faka faka anywhere.Behavioral change is key to cervical cancer eradication
Funny It come up! I was discussing this with my 22yrs old niece who has visited me from Zambia some time back. She said most Zambian woman even though the visited the gynecologist for a pulp smear they wouldn’t be attended to as the gynecologists are constantly busy as they are fill and in demand and those are private practitioners. In public hospitals its practically impossible to see one
its not because of having unprotected sex with an uncircumcised man. It is the luck of hygiene on uncircumcised man and their irresponsible behavior of having unprotected sex
#24 IM GLAD SOMEONE ALSO NOTICED THAT ONE. I MUST SAY I WAS HIGHLT CONFUSED WHEN I READ THAT. IT WILL BE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL TO ALOT OF WOMEN IF THIS PROCESS WAS ACTUALLY EXPLAINED BA LT. COULD YOU PLIZ CHASE UP THE DOC AND TELL HIM WE WANT TO KNOW HOW WE WOMEN CAN GO ABOUT THIS WHOLE SELF SCREENING THING-WHICH BY THE WAY SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUSTED. BUT WE’LL GIVE IT A GO!
WTF ???????????
kudia ti nasheko.ati kudia nikutonta elo futi kutontelatu ku silza na supu yonse.
women need to abstain from having many sex partners. Also Zambian men need to follow the examples of lundas and luvales and be circumcised. It is one of the answers for reducing HIV aids too.
It is not only cervical cancer where Zambia is highest. It is among the highly indebted countries. It is among the most corrupt nations. It has the least number of graduates in the Africa, with only two universities to talk about since its independence 44 yrs ago.
University education is rediculed and considered unnecessary. The majority who do not want to hear about it.
No wonder the biggest university in Zambia (UNZA)is still closed. Very few bloggers would even wish to talk about its closure.
Ladies be encouraged to visit the local clinics eg kanyama, mtendere, chilenge, chelston for your check up. Its free and very beneficial. Forget the past and save your future.
#36 thanks.
Thorough cleanliness of genitals by every man is the paramount in prevention of cervical cancer. If you love your wife as much as you want them, then prolong their lives by your consistent personal hygiene, uncircumcised or circumcised.
This better be included in the syllabi at Primary school stage. Traditional Birth attendants, bashibukomba & bana Chimbusa could have sessions too at local communities. Dr Macha here is a task for ‘Prevention’ while you look for the cure. See to it that PS Miti promotes this in every clinic
Problem Zambians you take whatever people say.Yes it’s good for men to be circumcised but why does everyone say Africans all the time nga aba sungu three quarters aren’t!Friends it’s only our lifestyles we need to change to avoid contracting AIDS, it’s not necessary bonse kuma scissors.2.Ninshi ama guys ema transmitters ba ma cancer munsuna yama gelo?With the current population of men who are not circumcised does this mean this cervical cancer may end up being a pandemic?Sorry but I seem lost on this one.
Guys muzisuka vima foreskin with spirit or the alcohol you imbibe daily. its home to the virus
Every woman should have a pap smear at least once a year. Cervical cancer is curable if detected in its early stages. The reason why zambia is ranking high in c/cancer cases is because it has now been given prominance in zambia and patients are being successfully treated. Apart from pap smear, limiting the number of sexual partners will reduce exposure to the human papiloma virus (HPV) which is known to cause cervical cancer. But this cancer doesnt have to be a death sentence so l urge all women to go for pap smears; thats the greatest defense you have against being killed by this disease.
men should not do cows. women stick to one male of which ever spec… of your choice – waona manje.
ha! lets just stop having sex! today there is HIV around it, tomorrow its cervical cancer…what next???
men should also stop shaging monkeys…
The cervical cancer is cause among other things early sexaul debut, Human Papilomma virus and its true men could be carriers. The HIV situation aggrevates the situation. However, with a functional health care system most case could be treated before they got cancerous. There is also a vaccine licensed in the USA for the prevention of cervical cancer, but knowing our government it will be aged before our girls can be vaccinated.
#36 you have spoken sense and i would expect all bloggers to do the same. Get real and to the bottom of issues here. #61 its not that men could be carriers of the HPV but they are the ones transmitting it from one partner to another. This is a serious issue that needs sensitisation to our young girls and mothers of Zambia. To prevent this prevalance of Ca Cervix, they need regular screening for eraly detection. And the Govt must do something about sourcing vaccination of young girls 12 -19 years for prevention of this deadly but very curable form of cancer. Where i am at the moment, the govt has made it free for girls of that age to get the vaccine free begining August this year.
Continued…..Previuosly the vaccine used to cost about $150 per shot and one has to take atleast three shots to complete the vaccination. So these are the matters that sshould concern the campaigners of the forth coming elections.
All the things you are all talking about can not be implemented unless you vote for a man of integrety who understand all these issues. Some of the presidential candidates are polygamist spreading all the human papilloma viruses. Guys vote wisely – Vote HHH
Imwe ba VOA get your facts correct. Macha is not a cervical cancer specialist but a gyenoacologist. dont just give titles to lend cridence to your article. and which statistics or research are you using coz research on Cervical cancer in Zambia is just going on. You should have asked Dr Mwanahamuntu who has been studying the subject for many years to give you the correct picture. he is more of an authority than Dr Macha.
Early diagnosis of cervical cancer in Zambia is delayed and in most cases neglected.lack of laboratory facilities is a major contributing factor.Lack of sensitisation is another factor.The aspect of using vineger Dr Macha alluded to sounds very sipmle but can be misleading to most women.Consider the position so one still needs someone to do it.the best option is to train more in Gynaecology with oncology(study of cancer).Routine cervical examination to all women in child bearing age and those with history of cancer in thei families.Smoking isnot a major factor In zambia most women dont smoke.
secondly if macha said what i have just read am disappointed. how will a woman see her cervix at home which is approximately 7cm from the introitus. you need a speculum to do this and screening will definately need lab investigations of cells from the cervix and can only be done at a health centre. there is no such a thing as a school of cytologists. please dont alarm the nation what we need is to strengthen primary health care of our people and education.
LT before you write something scientific please get your facts straight and quote studies done and published with statistics and references or else you will get gabage data that is misleading. this is not to say that there is no increase in the number of cases of cervical cancer seen in our hospitals. but the question one needs to ask is this as a result of the incresse in the number of HIV cases even tho CSO shows a reduction in the incidence of HIV or are there other factors? thats a research quetion that is currently being studied. lets wait for the publication of results.
Athletico Madrid 1-1 Liverpool.
Ladies, don’t listen to alangisi or banachumbosa(sp)….. you know what I am talking about.
chelsea 1-0 roma
mubobo you are awake bushe teti tunweko pakusefya kwabuntungwa? pakokola mwe.
iwe chi VOA reporter ubufi get your facts right and LT make sure you check validity of the articles before we ned up with women with excoriated cervices becoz of vinegar use
Stop applying ONION GAULA…..
ifinki kuti twa eshako mwe elyo iyiyine mosi yamu botolo iya nyowani
oke mubobo na lapoka visa. naya na mukusendama. bwaila nomba.
Hygiene is the key to this, and crossed legs. What happened when we entered the ninties. You know what? I am out too this discussion is freaking me out as a male. Suprisingly most guys on this thread are contributing more. Women need more cleaning than we do it seems, goodnight.
Ba Dokota, can you please present your statistics correctly. The cancer clinic has just being oppened at UTH. One yera ago we did not have any cervical cancer and this this time we are 2nd highest. Let me interpret for you; “Zambia is now capable of detecting cancer and we come 2nd highest in African countries where this research has been properly documented.”
I don’t believe the Zambian statistics, if anything the cancer screening is not widely done,i.e those numbers are just from Lusaka. Lets talk about universal screening, vaccinating against HPV, encourage Zedian men to get circumcised. Ma statistcs ya BOZA.
some Zed men mzisamba bwino u see now? u r bringin problems for us, please shower properly, ule kunta bwino when peeing and avoid those Sololas from Stanely bar.
some zed women too much makwala put in the vajajas-please stop
this is a shame for zambia
A POINT OF CLARIFICATION EDITOR. I WAS MISQUOTED BY WHOEVER CARRIED THE STORY ON CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING WITH VINEGAR OR 3-5 PERCENT ACETIC ACID. IT IS NOT A SELF TEST BY THE WOMAN HERSELF BUT A SCREENING TEST DONE BY TRAINED NURSES OR HEALTH PROVIDERS . THE SCREENING TEST IS CALLED VISUAL INSPECTION WITH ACETIC ACID (VIA).I WOULD LOVE THIS TO BE CLARIFIED AS IT CAN MISLEAD A LOT OF WOMEN AND SELF TESTING IS LOGICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO. MY EMAIL FOR FULL CLARIFICATION EDITOR IS :[email protected]
THANKS.
DR. SWEBBY MACHA
GYNEACOLOGIST – UTH
LUSAKA ZAMBIA
The statistic and rating at large is quite alarming.However, i dont really rely on the basis of those statistics because unless its compulsory on each and every woman who goes to the Hospital or Clinic.
Let someone help me on how such statistics and samples were gathered.
for the many mistakes made please all guys lets save our girls and stop spreading this and girls listen to mama and papa – stay home fast secondhand cars, chicken and chips will kill your hips
#9,you have good point, Women dont talk openly about the genitalia issues` bcoz of tradition teachings of which at times i feel we have a long way to go if we need to have mature and health women in our country.Some teachings are good & of great value, but some are questionable & not health.
Cervical cancer can be caused by the human paplioma virus (the virus that causes genital warts). It(hpv) is very common around the world and most people who have it don’t know they have it, as it remains dormant. Once you have it it can be treated (hence women should go for regular pap smears at least once a year). Some strians of the virus don’t cause cancer and some do. An earlier blogger mentioned a vaccine. Yes there is an injection vaccine that vaccinates you against all strains of the but i think in africa it has not yet been subsidized by the government ( meaning its very expensive for the everday man or woman. To some it up go get checked and advise the women around you to!!
Rather face a 20 minutes uncomfortable feeling once a year than have an illness that may take away all your years.
Dr macha can someone put vinegar muntweni apusuka dont destroy intwenu yabanenu pantu ninshi they wont enjoy it elobakabachaya intwenu,pantu entwenu must always be sweet.
oh god help us!
You guys make us lough… If we leaders are leading you in this game, do you expect anything less? Any consultation, get us on
http://[email protected].
Ni onion gaula eilenga na zazamina sana. and the other thing is
my fellow women should stop uku donsa amalepe sana.
PLEASE DR MACHA CAN YOU EDUCATE US WOMEN SO THAT WE KNOW THE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL CANCER. AND HOW CAN UKU DONSA AMALEPE SANA CAUSE CANCER. MOUREEN MWANAWASA, ZED MEN ARE FUNNY. WHEN YOU DONT HAVE MALEPE THEY RUN AWAY AND FIND SOMEONE WHO HAS.
What we need is to go flat out and educate our Zedians about these things……..
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