On 02 August 2024, the World Well being Group (WHO) in partnership with the Authorities of Japan donated cervical most cancers screening devices to the Ministry of Well being and Social Companies (MoHSS) within the Omaheke area. The donation was made underneath the Japan-funded mission titled Growing Entry to High quality Vitamin and Safety Companies for Susceptible Populations together with girls and kids, which goals to extend entry to diet interventions to forestall and handle malnutrition amongst girls and kids.
“As WHO, we want to categorical our gratitude to the Authorities of Japan for the monetary assist to acquire the screening devices being donated to the Ministry at this time,” acknowledged Dr Temptation Chigova, the Maternal and Youngster Well being officer at WHO Namibia as she delivered remarks on behalf of WHO consultant Dr Richard Banda. Dr Chigova additional reiterated that WHO is dedicated to assist MoHSS to guard the well being of ladies and scale back cervical most cancers mortality within the nation.
The donated devices can be used throughout African Youngster Vaccination Week from 05 – 09 August 2024, the place screening for cervical most cancers is being built-in. The donation goals to assist the ministry’s effort to remove cervical most cancers and obtain the 90-70-90 elimination targets. Presently, it’s estimated that yearly, 375 girls are recognized with cervical most cancers in Namibia and 214 die from the illness. Cervical most cancers is the 2nd commonest feminine most cancers in Namibia and is avoidable by means of screening, HPV vaccination and therapy of these recognized.
Accepting the donation, Omaheke Regional Well being Director Mr Jeremiah Shikulo expressed gratitude to WHO saying that the donation got here at an opportune time when the area is about to conduct the African Youngster Vaccination Week. “The devices will enable us to succeed in the focused inhabitants within the Omaheke area and I want to guarantee WHO that the devices we acquired can be used for the meant objective of screening, detecting and treating cervical most cancers,” he added.
The devices comprise of 200 vaginal speculums and 200 Visible Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA) packs, and display factors have been recognized at Epako, Aminius and Leonardville clinics, Otjinene well being middle and Epako neighborhood middle.