In commemoration of International Women’s Day, the Upper East Regional Secretariat of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), in partnership with LO Norway (LO), has organized a special event focused on raising awareness about cervical cancer and promoting women’s health in the region.
The event, held at the Catholic Social Center in Bolgatanga, brought together representatives from various trade unions, civil society organizations, healthcare professionals, and women’s groups to mark the occasion and engage in discussions on the importance of early detection and prevention of cervical cancer.
Addressing participants, Scholastica Tagtir Dery, the Upper East Regional Secretary of the TUC, underscored the significance of International Women’s Day as a platform to advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly in the realm of healthcare.
“As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is crucial that we prioritize women’s health and well-being. Cervical cancer remains a significant public health challenge, and through initiatives like today’s sensitization program, we aim to empower women with knowledge and resources to protect themselves against this preventable disease,” stated Madam Dery.
The sensitization program featured information on the causes, symptoms, and risk factors associated with cervical cancer, as well as the importance of regular screening and vaccination as preventive measures.
Gifty Chigayefin Damsongor, a public health nurse at the Upper East Regional Hospital, emphasized the critical role of early detection in improving treatment outcomes and reducing mortality rates associated with cervical cancer.
“There wouldn’t have been any topic better for this occasion than cervical cancer because looking at the trend at which cervical cancer is increasing, it is good we look at it again until we find solutions. It is the fourth leading cancer that affects women in the world. In Ghana, it is one of the leading cancers among women that results in death. So, this occasion is just perfect for this topic,” she noted.
A participant, Alice Ndego, Public Services Workers Union Women’s Committee Chair for the region, said the engagement was an eye-opener “because there were certain things that we women have been doing but didn’t know that it was causing harm to us. Some of us feel that sometimes we get our satisfaction from oral sex, not knowing that oral sex is causing harm to us. So, we have been told to resist oral sex.”
Another participant, Alberta Azeko, said she learned a lot about cervical cancer, its causes, and its prevention.
“Initially, I didn’t know that having multiple sexual partners contributes to getting cervical cancer, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the sensitization.”
Going forward, the Upper East Regional Secretariat of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) pledged to collaborate with the Ghana Health Service to organize cervical cancer screening and treatment services for enabling women.
International Women’s Day is celebrated globally on March 8th to celebrate the achievements of women. This year’s celebration is under the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.”
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga|Ghana
