… Following announcement of temporary pap smear services
BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE– Despite the suspension of Pap smear services, cervical cancer screening will continue.
This was revealed by Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi yesterday in a statement where she was announcing the temporary suspension of Pap smear testing while the Mbabane Government Hospital Pathology Laboratory equipment was going through maintenance.
The minister, who also doubles as a senator, said the Ministry of Health wished to notify the public of the temporary suspension of Pap smear collection, as a result of the breaking down of a part of the testing machine at Mbabane Government Hospital.
“The testing machine is currently being repaired and recalibrated and should be ready by mid-January 2023. Once the machine is fixed, health facilities will be alerted.
“In the meantime, we advise the Nation to use other available options to screen for cervical cancer such as Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA). The VIA method is available in 203 health facilities in the country, including Hlatikhulu, Mankayane, Pigg’s Peak and Mbabane Government Hospitals as well as Good Shepherd Hospital, Mkhuzweni and Dvokolwako Health Centres. Loop Electrical Excision Procedure (LEEP) is also available to treat early lesions of cervical cancer before it spreads,” explained the Minister of Health.
The Ministry of Health further encouraged women to continue to seek the VIA services so as not to delay the diagnosis of cervical cancer and to ensure early treatment.
According to Mayo Clinic, Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women.
A Pap smear involves collecting cells from your cervix — the lower, narrow end of your uterus that’s at the top of a female’s womanhood.
Detecting cervical cancer early with a Pap smear gives one a greater chance at a cure. A Pap smear can also detect changes in your cervical cells that suggest cancer may develop in the future. Detecting these abnormal cells early with a Pap smear is your first step in halting the possible development of cervical cancer.
