WOCACA donates cash and items to cervical cancer survivors in Chikwawa.

Chikwawa, December 2, Mana: A local health rights organization, Women Coalition Against Cancer (WOCACA) recently donated K200, 000 and assorted relief items to cervical cancer survivors in Chikwawa under a group, Tikondane Cervical Cancer Women Group that mobilise women and girls for screening.

Handing over the cash and relief items at Traditional Authority Katunga, WOCACA Executive Director, Maud Mwakasungula, said the coalition decided to donate to survivors of cervical cancer knowing that the women meet a lot challenges when carrying out their duties on top of being affected by Tropical Cyclone Freddy.

“We have given them relief items like; sugar, flour, soap, cooking oil, soya pieces, salt for consumption and an amount of K200, 000.00 cash to help them do their cancer awareness campaigns around communities in the district,” she said.

She further hailed government through the Ministry of Health in collaboration with various partners for carrying out a series of vaccination campaigns and raising cervical cancer awareness.

“These include the HPV vaccination given to girls from nine to 14 years to ensure they are fully protected before becoming sexually active,” said Mwakasungula.

Tikondane Cervical Cancer Women Group Chairperson, Falesi Wajomba commended WOCACA for the support, saying this will encourage them to carry out cancer awareness in the community.

“WOCOCA has 13 members who mobilized about 300 women in communities to go for cervical cancer screening such that some women that were found cervical cancer positive received treatment in the health facilities to ensure survival.

“We urge all women to go for cervical cancer screening; We are a testimony of women that survived cervical cancer after being screened and treated at an early stage,” she said.
Wajomba admitted that Tikondane group meets challenges when doing the advocacy citing limited means of transport.

She called on other organisations to support the group to carry our extensive community campaigns to raise cervical cancer awareness.
Chikwawa District Hospital Cervical Cancer Coordinator, Loveness Santu hailed good working relation with Tikondane Group in cervical cancer awareness as the group compliment the hospital roles in reaching out to communities with cervical cancer messages.

She said, from January to October 2023, Chikwawa District Hospital screened 6,003 clients, adding that 204 women were found positive and received treatment.

“57 were suspected cases and were told to come again for screening after some period of time,” Santu said.

WOCACA was founded by women and girls who have been directly or indirectly affected by cervical cancer and received 600 US dollars from FIND Diagnosis for All, to help women in Chikwawa to fight against cervical cancer.