Doha: Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) has launched a month-long campaign titled ‘You are precious’ to raise awareness about cervical cancer.
Through the campaign, women can do Pap Smear test free in Al Ahli Hospital after getting a coupon from QCS. That will organise a closing ceremony of the campaign on January 29 at Al Messila, Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha.
The ceremony will include many activities as lectures and awareness workshops, healthy cooking, exercises, also present on the occasion will be health educators from QCS to answer questions from the participants. In addition, women who did Pap Smear test will enter the draw and win prizes.
Heba Nasser, head of the Health Education Department at QCS, said, “The campaign comes within the framework of January, which is the global awareness month of cervical cancer, which is considered one of the most common types of cancer among women.
Nasser noted that QCS is holding awareness lectures and workshops involving the country’s diverse sectors to raise awareness of the symptoms of the disease, the factors responsible for it as well as methods of prevention and cure.
Nassar presented a set of prevention methods such as do a Pap test, HPV test HPV vaccine (starting from age of 15 years), stop smoking, eat healthy and be active.
Cervical cancer can affect any woman and especially between the age of 20 and 50 and one of most common cancers in women worldwide. According to Nasser, the Pap test is a simple one and the best time to do the test is 10-14 days from the first day of menstruation. The first Pap test should be done after three years of marriage if the age is 21 years or above.
After the first Pap test, women should go for the test every three years until the age of 65. After 65, the test can be stopped if the last three Pap tests are normal. Pap tests can be done in most of the health centers of Primary Health Care Corporation.