The Saudi Society of Gynecology and Childbirth has launched a campaign to raise the awareness of women about the increasing threat of cervical cancer in the Kingdom. The campaign, which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan and is being held in cooperation with Saba Polyclinic, aims to educate women about the disease. Cervical cancer usually develops as a result of repeated or persistent infection with a carcinogenic virus, called HPV, leading to the presence of cancerous cells. “Women who live in developing countries are usually among those most threatened by this disease, especially when they do not take appropriate safety measures or have periodic medical checkups,” said Khaled Set, Assistant Professor and Consultant in Cancer Medicine, at King Abdulaziz University Hospital. Cervical cancer is one of the most dangerous types of cancer, and a majority of women who contract it die at a young age, he said. “However, modern scientific research has developed a vaccine which provides full protection in a majority of cases, which is a major scientific advancement representing protection for millions of women,” he added. Sahar Bahrawi, the organizer of the awareness campaign, said the campaign is “part of our efforts to make women aware of the importance of having a periodic checkup as a way to avoid this disease.” According to Bahrawi, throughout the month of Ramadan, there will be campaign events in malls and other locations informing women about the disease and how to protect themselves. “We will distribute more than 100,000 medical bulletins, in addition to providing detailed information on the symptoms, treatment and prevention of cervical cancer. It is important that women know of the need for periodic examinations in order to detect the disease in its early stages and of the necessity to vaccinate girls before marriage which will provide them with 100 percent protection,” she added. According to Bahrawi, studies show that 83 percent of cervical cancer cases occur in developing countries, where this disease causes the death of many women. Bahrawi said that according to the latest statistics, there are millions of women in the world infected with the deadly disease. “Within the framework of social responsibility, medical institutions, apart from treating patients, must also help to raise the awareness of the community so as to protect families in Saudi Arabia,” she added. “This campaign includes a range of social activities and media events to raise awareness about cervical cancer, and methods for its prevention, emphasizing the importance of the social role played by Saudi society,” said Prof. Hassan Jamal, women's disease consultant, and head of the Saudi Society for Gynecology and Childbirth.
