HUNDREDS of women between the ages of 25 and 54 are set to benefit from free cervical cancer screenings on Tuesday, February 23 at the St Mark’s Anglican Church Hall in the town centre in Manchester.

The initiative, which is being spearheaded by the Southern Regional Health Authority’s non-communicable disease prevention and control team, is in commemoration of World Cancer Day that was celebrated on February 4, 2016 under the theme, “We Can. I Can”.

The day’s activities will begin with a march at 8:30 am through the town and will be followed by an opening ceremony at 10:00 am. In addition to the screening activities, free health checks for adults will be provided. The public will also have access to health education activities throughout the day.

Regional chronic disease coordinator for the Southern Regional Health Authority, Dr Nadine Williams, noted that the team will utilise the visual inspection with acetic acid method for the cervical cancer screenings, which allows for immediate results.

“This method allows for us to give the clients their results on the spot and if there is no abnormality, then the test would not have to be repeated for another three years. This screening test has been utilised in Manchester since 2014 with a favourable response from the clients” Dr Williams explained.