Zambia determined to end the fight against Cervical Cancer



Zambia's first Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba

By DOREEN NAWA

FIRST Lady Christine Kaseba is hopeful that Zambia’s ranking of being the number 1 on the Cervical Cancer mortality rate worldwide will change.
Speaking in New York at the launch of the new Cervical Cancer Crisis Card on May 10, 2013, Dr Kaseba said Zambia’s future in the fight against cervical cancer is bright following the introduction of the approved Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
“It is shocking that Zambia is ranked number 1 on the Cervical Cancer Crisis Card for mortality rate,” said Dr Kaseba. “We can change this by making life saving vaccines available that almost entirely prevent the disease. We have the tools and technologies, this mother’s day we must stop talking and act to save women’s lives.”
Dr Kaseba said the startling disparities between women in the developed and developing world are personified by cervical cancer. 
“Unless life-saving HPV vaccines are prioritised by decision makers this inequity will remain.
“By investing in women, nations are investing in their future prosperity. If women are educated, and have access to good quality health services, then they and their children are much more likely to stay healthy and contribute positively to their nation,” Dr Kaseba said.
Last year, former Press Association of Zambia Vice President Susan Musukuma died after a year-long battle against cervical cancer, a battle she lost on November 28, 2012.

Former Press Association of Zambia, V/President Susan Musukuma

The Crisis Card is being launched globally to mark International Mother’s Day tomorrow May 12, 2013.
According to the Crisis Card, Zambia has the highest mortality rate for cervical cancer at 38.6 percent per 100,000 people  followed by Malawi with Australia having the lowest cervical cancer mortality rate.   The Cervical Cancer Crisis Card surveyed 50 countries.
“Australia has the lowest cervical cancer mortality rate, which is due to the successful rollout of a comprehensive package of HPV vaccines, treatment and prevention. According to the Government of Australia, there has also been a decline in genital warts and cervical abnormalities among young women since the introduction of the HPV vaccine in Australia,” the Crisis card read in parts.
India has highest number of women dying from cervical cancer and Zambia has highest mortality rate. Australia provides a global model for dramatically preventing cervical cancer.
More women die of cervical cancer in India than anywhere in the world. India along with China, Brazil, Bangladesh and Nigeria represent over 50% of the global burden of cervical cancer deaths.
However, African countries are struggling to deal with cervical cancer too according to the new Cervical Cancer Crisis Card, which ranks countries from across the world based on the number of deaths from cervical cancer and the overall mortality rate.
A woman in Zambia is 25 time more likely to die from cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer kills an estimated 275,000 women every year and 500,000 new cases are reported worldwide. This entirely preventable disease is the second largest cancer killer of women in low and middle-income countries.