Low vaccination, poor screening fuel cervical cancer burden — Dr Aisha Ali Issaka
A gynaecologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Aisha Ali Issaka, has expressed concern that low uptake of vaccination and screening continues to undermine efforts to curb cervical cancer in the country.
In an interview with The Mirror last Thursday, Dr Ali Issaka said cervical cancer was among the most preventable cancers in women, yet many Ghanaians were failing to take advantage of available preventive measures.
She explained that vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and regular screening could significantly reduce cervical cancer cases, but uptake of both interventions remained low.
“As a result of poor screening, many women report to health facilities when the disease is already at an advanced stage, making treatment very difficult and survival rates low,” she said.
Dr Ali Issaka noted that cervical cancer takes years to develop, stressing that early detection through routine screening could save lives.
“For example, a woman may have repeated HPV infections between the ages of 15 and 20 before the virus enters the cell cycle and eventually leads to cancer. This process takes a long time and during that period, the condition is easily treatable if detected early,” she explained.
She lamented that although cervical cancer screening services were widely available at district and regional hospitals, as well as at some Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, uptake remained low.
“Screening is available but the uptake is very low. If we intensify education on the effects of cervical cancer, people may better appreciate how serious it is and take screening more seriously,” she added.
Types of screening
Dr Ali Issaka said the type of cervical cancer screening offered depended on whether a person tested positive or negative, with the main methods being the HPV DNA test, the Pap test (cytology) or a combination of both (co-testing).
She explained that during a Pap test, cells are collected from the cervix and examined for abnormal changes. A woman who tests negative is advised to repeat the test every three years, while those who test positive are required to undergo further follow-up tests.
According to her, regular screening allows health professionals to detect abnormalities early and provide appropriate treatment before the disease progresses.
Danger
Dr Ali Issaka warned that cervical cancer could have severe and far-reaching consequences if left untreated.
“At advanced stages, it can lead to complications such as blood clots in the legs, tumours causing the vagina to close up and even spread to the brain,” she said, adding that HPV was also linked to vulva, throat and penile cancers.
She stressed that this made prevention and early detection critical.
Vaccination and risk factors
Dr Ali Issaka, who is President of the Muslim Medical Association of Ghana and a member of the Medical Women Association of Ghana, welcomed the introduction of the HPV vaccine into Ghana’s routine immunisation programme for girls aged 9 to 14, which began in October last year.
However, she emphasised the need for greater public awareness, noting that boys should also be considered because HPV affects both males and females.
“Parents must understand that the virus is present in both men and women. Protecting boys is equally important in breaking the chain of transmission,” she said.
She added that the HPV vaccine remained beneficial for women over 35 and encouraged more women to get vaccinated.
Highlighting risk factors, Dr Ali Issaka mentioned unsafe sexual practices, having multiple sexual partners and smoking as contributors to cervical cancer. She explained that symptoms often appear only when the disease has already progressed.
“Symptoms such as abnormal vaginal bleeding, bleeding outside the menstrual period, offensive vaginal discharge and bleeding during sexual intercourse are warning signs that should never be ignored,” she cautioned.
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