Stop self-medication of genitals –Women told

Women have been advised to desist from self-medication at the slightest indication of an infection, particularly those affecting the genital area.

They have instead been encouraged to seek early medical attention and avoid taking drugs that have not been medically prescribed.

The advice was given by Women’s Health Advocate, Patricia Rockson Hammond, in an interview on the sidelines of a health screening programme at the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry at North Legon in Accra.

The programme was jointly organised by the Health with Patricia Initiative, the office of the North Legon Electoral Area Assembly Member, Prince Deku, Shape Healthcare, CEM Lifeline Ministry and Taifa Polyclinic, with sponsorship from Enterprise Group.

The programme was aimed at creating awareness of pertinent health issues affecting women, with particular focus on cervical cancer and vaginal infections.

Madam Hammond stressed the importance of seeking professional medical care, noting that different infections could present similar symptoms and require different treatments.

“One infection can mimic the other. You cannot use the same antibiotic to treat two different infections,” she said.

She also expressed concern about the limited public awareness of cervical cancer, despite the increasing number of people being diagnosed with the disease.

“Each and every day, people are being diagnosed with cancer,” she said.

According to her, the educational gap informed the decision to use her platform, in collaboration with the Assembly Member, to raise awareness and encourage women to prioritise their health.

She underscored the importance of highlighting the prevalence of diseases affecting women and their potential consequences to enable them to make informed decisions about their health.

As part of the programme, participants received education from Joseph Quartey, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at the University of Ghana Medical School, on cervical and breast cancer.

He also urged participants to seek early medical attention at approved health facilities whenever they noticed any unusual symptoms.

The programme included screening for cervical cancer, breast cancer and typhoid, as well as voluntary testing for HIV, hepatitis B and malaria.

Participants also benefited from body mass index (BMI) and blood glucose checks, counselling on family planning, and free National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration and renewal.

Medical officers from the Taifa Polyclinic conducted the screenings, with support from medical representatives of Shape Healthcare.

The Assembly Member for the North Legon Electoral Area, Prince Deku, expressed satisfaction with the turnout and overall success of the exercise.

He said the health of his constituents remained a priority, explaining that the latest programme was the second health screening exercise organised under his leadership to help residents assess their health status.

Mr Deku said his office was also working on plans to establish a 24-hour security system to improve security in the area.

He identified the development of inner roads, drainage systems and street lighting as some of the other priorities for the electoral area.

He said his vision was to eventually extend the health screening exercise to cover the entire North Legon community, allowing more residents to assess their health.

Mr Deku appealed to benevolent organisations, public-spirited individuals and well-meaning Ghanaians to support the programme to enable it to reach more people.

Source: GNA