The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched its first colposcopy centre at the FCT General Hospitals, a step toward combating cervical cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Nigeria.
The facility, equipped with a colposcopy machine donated by Nordica Fertility Centre, Abuja, will enhance early detection and treatment of cervical cancer.
Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, FCTA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe in a statement signed by her Media Aide, Mrs. Bola Ajao, stressed the facility’s transformative potential. “This is the first colposcopy facility in FCT general hospitals and will serve as a referral hub for both public and private hospitals in the FCT,” Dr. Fasawe said. “It provides an opportunity to ‘see and treat’ early changes in the cervix, thereby preventing cervical cancer.”
Cervical cancer remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, ranking as the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women aged 15-44.
Dr. Fasawe cited 2020 statistics, which showed 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths, underscoring the urgency of early detection and intervention.
She expressed gratitude to Nordica Fertility Centre for their generous donation, encouraging other organisations to support the healthcare system.
The colposcopy centre will provide biopsies, early lesion detection, and timely interventions.
To encourage use, female staff at FCT hospitals will receive free colposcopy services until January 2025.
Dr. Oluseyi Ashaolu, Medical Director of Wuse General Hospital, called for increased screening, noting, “Colposcopy is a safe and effective method for detecting abnormal cell growth.”
