Why Female Should Screen for Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is second to breast cancer and affects over 500,000 African women at their prime age, when they should enjoy the benefits of all their labor. World health organization are carrying out so many activities on the cancer but there are still a lot of unfilled gap! So many people are not aware of the cancer let alone take part in the screening.Being a sexually transmitted disease, the virus affects both male and female. Cervical cancer is among the most preventable cancers: pre-cancerous lesions can easily be detected through screening before they become cancer. When screening detects pre-cancerous lesions, these can easily be treated and cancer avoided. Screening can also detect cancer at an early stage when treatment has a high potential for cure.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer.


It is a highly contagious infection that is transmitted through sexual or skin-to-skin contact. Over three quarters of sexually active women get it at some point in their lives. There are over 100 types of HPV, but 2 – types 16 and 18 – cause 70% of cancers. The HPV vaccine is almost 100% effective in preventing the persistent HPV infections that cause cervical cancer.Despite the advances of screening and vaccinations, today more than 28 000 women die from cervical cancer in the WHO European Region every year. It remains the second most common cancer among women aged 15–44. Given the technology and development levels in the Region, women have a right to be protected from this disease. Introducing the HPV vaccine more widely, in combination with cervical screening, has the potential to save many lives, particularly among younger women.