HUNDREDS of women turned up for the free cervical cancer screening at Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) office, Chinatown last Monday and Tuesday.
SIPPA offered the free service to mark International Women’s Day (IWD).
SIPPA Program Manager, Nester Amasia said SIPPA received many women compared to their normal daily work.
“This is an indicator that women see the services that we provide and also realize that need of being checked out.
“They realize the importance of having to come and get screened early, as well as if they have any sickness, they can be treated as well,” said Mrs. Amasia.
The free service was conducted for women of 25 years old and above to check their statuses as to whether or not they have cervical cancer.
Ms Amasia said the free service is their part in “Accelerating Action” for women as stated in this year’s IWD Theme.
“Because of the high rate of cervical cancer in Solomon Islands, we came up with the idea of providing this free service not only to mark the IWD but also take care of our women in the case of cervical cancer.
“We are doing this in order for us to provide cervical cancer prevention measures for our women because, as we know, cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of the deaths for our women in Solomon Islands,” she said.
Mrs. Amasia said based on the nurses’ assessments whether a woman’s status is positive, suspicious or negative, the nurses provide what is required for the statuses.
With that, SIPPA also had an information booth outside their office where their staff gave information to clients as well the directive information as to how to access their services.
“We want to encourage our women to come to SIPPA to access our health services, not only cervical cancer screening, but also HIV and STIs screenings and other services related to family planning,” Mrs. Amasia said.
SIPPA’s cervical cancer services is available from Mondays to Thursdays, as well as STI and HIV screenings, and family planning services.
Women can access SIPPA’s health services by being a member, worth only $10 per year.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
Photo caption: Women coming out in numbers to celebrate International Women’s Day last week in Honiara.
