Coinfection with Cervical Cancer but still can afford to smile

The first time i went for cervical cancer screening was in 2007 after i learnt that women with HIV are at higher risk of contracting the disease. I went again in 2010 and three times in total have i had a chance of undergoing a pap smear test . The procedure has never been fun but i have to do it for the sake of my own health. But as much as testing positive to HIV is horrifying, i got no words to describe the shock and the consequent emotional distress of a woman tested for another dreaded disease on top of HIV.

Cervical cancer kills an estimated 275,000 women every year, 85 percent of whom are in developing countries. The link between HIV and cervical cancer is direct and deadly; HIV-infected women who are also infected with specific types of human papilloma virus (HPV) are 4-5 times more susceptible to cervical cancer than HIV-negative women. 

When Catherine invited me to visit Ulezi bora HIV positive women co-infected with cervical cancer group, i wondered what to present. Thank God i was going to do a financial literacy session and i had Ken with me who was an expert. At least Ken would take the most time. As Ken took to facilitate his session, i sat to look at the women who were seated listening. I noted at least 75% of the women present were not attentive.

After the session, i was yearning to talk and have a picture taken with these resilient women. To me they are heroines. They still afford to continue with their daily undertakings despite their health complications. 

When i stood to talk they all smiled. I could see some giggling and obviously could tell what i was saying was interesting to them. I chose my words carefully. They were so happy as after talking to them they all came to hug me. Its like i had rekindled some hope in them. But i could tell behind the smiles there was a sad story. 

Most of these women are from the rural poor. They come to this particular hospital because there are free services offered here. But its unfortunate that free service takes long before one can finally get to their appointment with the doctor. I understand a needs based assessment has to be carried out and funds solicited for each particular patient. Most of these women had undergone through the process of uterus removal and others were on the queue. For those that had not healed even after the procedure, pain was written all over their eyes. 

But the mothers, wives, sisters were all in smiles. Nothing could deter them from moving on with their lives. Though some of them told me this illness had reduced them to beggars since they could not be able to do any work, they were grateful to God that they were still alive and able to come here where they receive counseling and psycho social support.