Health 12 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Soroti Health Workers Push for Regular Cervical Cancer Screenings Among Women
Medics at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital are calling on women to prioritize cervical cancer screenings and STD testing after recent checks revealed advanced cases among many patients. They highlight awareness gaps and promote early detection to save lives. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/medics-urge-women-to-prioritise-cancer-screening-5421428
Health workers in Soroti are encouraging women to make cervical cancer screening and STD testing a priority to stay informed about their health status.
This push follows a screening of 419 women at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, where 20 had advanced cervical cancer and 32 received treatment for precancerous lesions just two months ago.
Sr. Rachael Adong, a midwife at the hospital, pointed to persistent communication barriers about cancer, which have led to unnecessary deaths. The team recently ran awareness campaigns to address community knowledge gaps on the disease.
Cervical cancer arises in the cervix cells, mainly from ongoing infections with high-risk HPV strains. It most affects women aged 30-50, especially those with multiple partners.
Services are available at the hospital’s gynaecology clinic, with recommendations for screenings every three years. Daily, the facility sees one or two advanced cases, underscoring the need for proactive check-ups even when healthy.
Despite Ministry of Health support, challenges like low awareness persist, with many women seeking care only after falling ill. Outreach now includes radio shows, church events, and community gatherings.
Sr. Adong urges more government funding for radio campaigns to boost confidence in seeking timely help. Dr. Alfred Anyonga, Soroti City Health Officer, also advocates HPV vaccination for young girls as a key preventive step.