Health Workers in Soroti Call for Increased Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women

By skika Reporter

Health professionals in Soroti have appealed to women to make cervical cancer screening and testing for sexually transmitted diseases a priority in order to better understand and safeguard their health.

The appeal follows recent findings at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, where 20 out of 419 women screened for cervical cancer were found to have advanced stages of the disease—just two months after the exercise was conducted.

Sr Rachael Adong, a midwife at the facility, said limited awareness about cervical cancer remains a major concern, contributing to preventable deaths.

“We discovered that many people in our communities have little knowledge about cervical cancer, which prompted us to launch an awareness campaign,” she explained.

Cervical cancer develops in the cervix—the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina—and is mainly caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV).

According to Sr Adong, 32 of the women screened were treated at the hospital for precancerous conditions—abnormal cell changes that can eventually develop into cancer if not addressed early.

She noted that women with multiple sexual partners face a higher risk, with the disease most common among those aged between 30 and 50.

“At our gynaecology clinic, we provide screening and treatment services for women attending maternal outpatient care,” she said.

Sr Adong urged women to undergo screening at least once every three years, warning that the hospital continues to register one to two new cases of advanced cervical cancer each day—an indication that many women are seeking care too late.

Despite support from the Ministry of Health in providing screening services, she highlighted ongoing challenges, particularly a lack of awareness.

“Many women only come to the hospital when they are already sick, instead of going for routine check-ups while still healthy,” she said.

To bridge this gap, health workers have intensified community outreach through radio talk shows, church gatherings, and public events to educate women about the importance of early detection.

Sr Adong also called on the government to invest more in radio-based health campaigns to encourage women to seek medical attention without fear or delay.

Meanwhile, Soroti City Health Officer Dr Alfred Anyonga emphasized the importance of vaccinating young girls against HPV, describing it as an effective preventive measure that helps the body build immunity against the virus responsible for most cervical cancer cases.

Cervical cancer primarily affects women between the ages of 30 and 50, with the highest incidence recorded among those aged 35 to 44. Although rare in women under 20, the risk begins to increase in the early twenties.