The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has acquired its first colposcopy machine, marking a significant step in combating cervical cancer and improving health outcomes in the region, it emerged on Sunday.
According to the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dolapo Fasawe, the importance of the machine cannot be overemphasized considering that cervical cancer is a major health concern in Nigeria being the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women aged 15-44 years.
The colposcopy machine was donated to the FCT by Nordica Fertility Centre, Abuja, according to a statement on Sunday by the Media Aide to the Mandate Secretary, Bola Ajao.
Noting that in 2020, Nigeria recorded 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths, Fasawe underscored the urgency of addressing this issue, adding that the donation is a significant step to combat early detection and treatment in the FCT.
Highlighting the importance of the donation during the commissioning of the equipment at the Wuse General Hospital, Fasawe said, “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.
“It provides an opportunity to ‘see and treat’ early changes in the cervix, helping to prevent cervical cancer.”
While she noted that cervical cancer has a pre-malignant phase lasting 10-15 years, which offers a critical window for early detection and treatment, the Mandate Secretary encouraged women of reproductive age to undergo regular screenings to prevent unnecessary deaths.
The available screening methods, she said, 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.
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
Fasawe, however, commended Nordica Fertility Centre for the donation while calling on other partners and organizations to support the government in building a more effective healthcare system.
In his remarks, the Medical Director of Wuse General Hospital, Oluseyi Ashaolu also urged
women within the reproductive age group to take advantage of the facility, adding that colposcopy is a safe and effective method for detecting abnormal cell growth in the cervix, vagina, and vulva.
He also announced that to encourage the use of the facility, the Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the FCTA has approved free colposcopy services for all female staff of FCT general hospitals until January 2025.
According to him, the 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.