ALEX AWITI: Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease
Dr. Alex Awiti speaking at a symposium of the Aga Khan University, East African Institute (EAI) in Nairobi, Kenya, October 2017.
AKU
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Article Author: ALEX AWITI: Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease
Media Source: The Star (Kenya)
Date: 29 June 2021
Cervical cancer is emerging as a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa where an estimated 372 million women over 15 years are at risk of developing the disease. Dr Alex Awiti, Vice Provost of the Aga Khan University writes that in Kenya, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women but the most common…
Cervical cancer is emerging as a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa where an estimated 372 million women over 15 years are at risk of developing the disease. Dr Alex Awiti, Vice Provost of the Aga Khan University writes that in Kenya, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women but the most common cause of cancer deaths. According to the World Health Organisation 33 in 100,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 22 in 100,000 die from the disease. Dr. Awiti says that cervical cancer is a preventable disease. A proven way to prevent cervical cancer is screening. The HPV test is a reliable screening test, which looks for high-risk HPV that are more likely to cause pre-cancers and cancers of the cervix.