The Zorgho health district organized an awareness and screening campaign for breast and cervical cancer in the village of Mankarga Traditionnel, commune of Boudry, on October 23, 2024. This initiative is part of the Pink October campaign, a month dedicated to increasing awareness and screening for women’s cancers. It benefited from the support of the Société des Mines de Sanbrado (SOMISA) and saw a strong mobilization of women and girls in the locality.
The Mankarga Traditionnel Health and Social Promotion Center (CSPS) was particularly busy on October 23. Hundreds of women and young girls flocked to the center to learn about breast and cervical cancer and to get screened.
The medical team at the Zorgho Medical Center with Surgical Antenna (CMA) raised awareness among women about the symptoms and early signs of these cancers. According to Mr. Kantagba Mouni, health attaché in obstetrical-gynecological care, cervical cancer, which is often silent, is difficult to detect without screening. “Screening is ess
ential because cervical cancer often has no visible signs,” he explained. Regarding breast cancer, he urged women to regularly feel their breasts and consult a health center in the event of any abnormalities.
The chief medical officer of the Zorgho health district, Dr Delphin Kaboré, recalled that cervical cancer is preventable by vaccinating 9-year-old girls. “This vaccine protects girls who have not yet had sexual intercourse,” he stressed, encouraging a better understanding of this preventive measure. He also praised the commitment of women in the community. According to him, the objectives, set at 200 screenings for breast and cervical cancer, have been largely exceeded. He congratulated the head nurse of the CSPS of Mankarga Traditionnel and the village chief for their full involvement in mobilizing women. He especially called on men to support women in this awareness-raising.
SOMISA (Société des Mines de Sanbrado) played a crucial role in organizing this campaign by providing financial and logistical
support. The company’s director of community relations, Assane Ouédraogo, stressed the importance of this partnership, which is in line with the company’s ongoing actions in favor of local communities. “We want to show our commitment to the health of communities and encourage a strong mobilization of women for their screening,” he said.
SOMISA’s Director of Occupational Health and Safety, Ms. Aïcha Natalie Nébié, stressed the goal of raising awareness among as many women as possible about the importance of early detection. “Cancer often goes unnoticed. We want women to be aware of the risks and act quickly to protect themselves,” she said.
The president of the Mankarga Traditionnel women’s group, Natalie Kaboré, testified to the importance of this awareness. For her, many women were previously unaware of the existence of these diseases and resorted to traditional treatments to soothe the pain. “We did not know that itching and sores could be signs of cancer,” she added. Knowing that screening and treatment
for these cancers are free, she affirmed her determination to encourage women to get screened.
This awareness and screening day at the CSPS of Mankarga Traditionnel made it possible to reach a wide audience, to demystify female cancers and to promote preventive behaviors in a region where women’s health remains a major challenge.
Source: Burkina Information Agency