“It is also advisable for young girls not to engage in sex at an early ages as this has been seen to be another factor behind the rise in Cervical Cancer in Zimbabwe…”
By Michael Gwarisa
YOUNG girls who engage in sexual intercourse at an early age (9-18) are at a greater risk of developing cervical cancer in the long run, an Island Hospise official has said.
Speaking in a program HIV Interventions on Star FM yesterday, Island Hospise Training Manager Franciscah Tsikai urged young girls to abstain from sex until their bodies are mature enough for such activities.
“Cervical cancer has always been there but traditionally it was most prevalent in women around the ages 40 and above. These days however, Cervical cancer knows no age as it is affecting young girls. This is because at times girls are having multiple sexual partners, but other risk factors include using some vagina tightening herbs in pursuit of pleasing their sexual partners.
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“Smoking has been identified as another leading cause of Cervical Cancer in women, women are also encouraged to deliver their babies in safe institutions so as to avoid using unsterilized objects during delivery. It is also advisable for young girls not to engage in sex at an early age as this has been seen to be another factor behind the rise in Cervical Cancer in Zimbabwe,” said Tsikai.
Most young girls in Zimbabwe and the world over are indulging in sex at very young ages of around 10 or 14 years putting the young population at risk owing to the ravenous disease.
Tsikai however encouraged women to regularly visit health institutions for check ups and screening to avoid developing cervical cancer.
“Signs of cervical cancer include a painful feeling during sex or even after sex, experiencing back aches after sex, passing out blood from the vagina and sometimes passing out an smelly fluid from the vagina.
“In Zimbabwe however when women start experiencing such blood from their privates, they rush to believe they have been bewitched thus turning away from visiting health institutions where they can get proper diagnosis.”
Most women in their menopause era at times pass out bloody blocks from their private parts even way in their old age and this has been singled out as a sign of cervical cancer.
Meanwhile, 60 percent of most cervical cancer cases in Zimbabwe are HIV related.The National Aids Council (NAC) communications official Tadiwa Pfupa called on women and the general public at large to get tested regularly for HIV.
“We encourage people to go for HIV testing regularly to see if they have the virus. Once one is discovered to be positive, they are put on treatment to help the body to stay stable in the fight against HIV.”