FCTA deploys colposcopy machine for cancer early detection

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has taken a significant step to combat cervical cancer in women by launching a colposcopy machine for early detection and treatment.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Mandate Secretary on Health and Environment Secretariat, Bola Ajao, stated that during the commissioning and inspection of the newly donated colposcopy machine by Nordica Fertility Centre, Abuja, the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, highlighted the importance of the facility.

“This is the first colposcopy centre in the FCT general hospitals and will also serve as a referral centre for all public and private hospitals within the FCT,” she stated. “It provides an opportunity to ‘see and treat’ early changes in the cervix, helping to prevent cervical cancer.”

Dr. Fasawe emphasized that cervical cancer is a major health concern in Nigeria. It is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women aged 15-44 years. She noted that in 2020, Nigeria recorded 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue.

She commended the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for his dedication to improving healthcare through various initiatives, including advocacy for HPV vaccination to reduce the disease’s burden and protect women’s health.

Dr. Fasawe also expressed gratitude to Nordica Fertility Centre for the donation and called on other partners and organizations to support the government in building a more effective healthcare system.

She explained that cervical cancer has a pre-malignant phase lasting 10-15 years, which offers a critical window for early detection and treatment. Women of reproductive age were encouraged to undergo regular screenings to prevent unnecessary deaths.

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The available screening methods include the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear and the more advanced colposcopy procedure, which is particularly useful for women with:

Abnormal Pap smear results,

Unusual vaginal bleeding,

Abnormal cervical lesions, or

Postcoital bleeding.

According to her, the colposcopy suite allows healthcare providers to detect and treat lesions early, perform biopsies of suspicious areas, and offer timely interventions to women who might otherwise be lost to follow-up.

The Medical Director of Wuse General Hospital, Dr. Oluseyi Ashaolu, announced that to encourage the use of the facility, the Secretariat has approved free colposcopy services for all female staff of FCT general hospitals until January 2025.

Dr. Ashaolu added that procedures would be conducted by specialists in gynecologic oncology, and patients with abnormal findings would receive appropriate treatments, including thermal ablation, Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP), or definitive surgeries as necessary.

He urged women within the reproductive age group to take advantage of the facility, stating that colposcopy is a safe and effective method for detecting abnormal cell growth in the cervix, vagina, and vulva. Early screening and treatment, he emphasized, are crucial in preventing cervical cancer.