Lack of cancer machine scares women in Mzimba
Two women in Mzimba risk suffering from Cervical Cancer following the District Hospital’s failure to transport them to Mzuzu Central Hospital for treatment because of budgetary constraints, Nyasa Times has leant.
The women were diagnosed three months ago with the Human Papiloma Virus that causes Cervical Cancer and are supposed to receive cryotherapy.
Cryotherapy is a procedure that prevents the Human Papiloma virus from progressing into Cervical Cancer.
The two women are Tusayire Mwalwambire, 24, who lives at Mzimba Boma and Lifness Jana who stays at Jenda Trading Centre in the district have since been appealing for well wishers to offer them assistance.
District Cervical Cancer Coordinator Veronica Ngulube told Nyasa Times that efforts to have the duo go to Mzuzu for cryotherapy have proved futile.
She said the district hospital does not have the cryotherapy machine as such patients in need of such treatment are referred to Mzuzu.
A cryotherapy machine costs about K1 million, according to Ngulube.
Ngulube said in the absence of the machine means Health Workers do visual inspection using Acetic Acid in screening the Human Papiloma virus.
Ngulube said cervical cancer is treatable especially when diagnosed early.
The Coordinator bemoaned lack of awareness of the disease especially in rural areas; a development she said has seen many women dying due to lack of early diagnosis and treatment.
“People need to be encouraged to go to health facilities for screening because early diagnosis helps,” she said.
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