Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital deputy director general responsible for clinical services Dr William Peno has urged women in the country to self-examine for breast cancer and seek early medical attention when they notice any signs or symptoms.
He said this at Mpemba Health Centre where the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and its partners launched National Breast Health Guidelines.
Peno described the launch of the guidelines as timely, saying they teach women how to self-test and health workers how to detect breast cancer which will facilitate early treatment.
He said: “The guidelines are meant to streamline breast care in Malawi. They include referral pathways, management options and signs and symptoms that health workers can use in the different facilities both at primary and secondary levels.
“One of the things in the guidelines is education for the women such as how they can self-examine themselves and what signs and symptoms they need to look out for. These also applies to health workers that they should be able to identify women that have these symptoms earlier and refer them to appropriate treatment.”
Peno also said one of the challenges they encounter is that some women going to hospitals late for treatment.
Speaking in a spate interview, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s (RCSI) Akazi Project coordinator Kuba Gajewski hailed the launch of the guidelines, saying they will help to standardize breast cancer care offered in the country.
“They serve as reference point for anyone involved in breast cancer care provision and help them to give proper care to patients,” he said.
A breast cancer survivor, Grace Kwacha, called on fellow women to examine themselves within three days after their menses to check for cancer signs and symptoms. She said early detection of the disease increases healing chances.
Apart from RCSI, the ministry also partnered Breast Cancer Care Foundation and Agency for Scientific Research and Training to develop and launch the guidelines.
CAPTION: Dr Peno shows off the guidelines
Credit: Tarcizio Mondwe, Malawi News Agency
