Cervical cancer is one of the 10 most widespread in our country. According to experts, any woman can be affected by it, and the onset of symptoms does not always indicate the onset of the disease, as they often appear when the cancer is in advanced stages. Therefore, awareness of early checks is one of the main tools against the disease. For this reason, the staff of the Rrashbull Multifunctional Community Center (Durres Municipality) held an information session with the women and mothers of the community in cooperation with representatives of the Xhafzotaj Health Center. During this meeting, other useful information was conveyed, such as:
1-The early signs of cervical cancer.
2- Where should girls and women go for periodic check-ups
3- When pap tests should be performed for most of the age to HPV.
Mothers were also informed about the HPV vaccine became girls at the age of 13, which is now offered free of charge in every health center.
"Because of the rumors I heard, I was reluctant to allow my daughter to get the HPV vaccine, but with the information I got at this meeting, I have become aware of its importance," says Shkëndija, a young mother, after the info session.
At the end of 2022, the application of the vaccine against cervical cancer started in Albania for the first time. The single-dose vaccine is administered to 13-year-old girls and its results are expected to be felt after nearly 20 years.
Such informative activities with parents take place within the project "Sustainable Socio-Economic Re-integration of Returned Migrants in Albania" financed by #GIZ, which is implemented by Terre des Hommes, in cooperation with the Durrës Municipality and in partnership with Initiative for Social Change, ARSIS