More women in Uganda are testing positive to cervical cancer, a recent cervical cancer screening report by UWOPA has revealed. 

According to a report compiled by Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), an umbrella group of women in parliament on cervical cancer, out of the 5,500 women who were tested in September 2011 in the country for cervical cancer, more than 300 women tested positive. 

Hon. Santa Alum Ogwang, the Women Member of Parliament for Oyam, who is also a member of UWOPA, noted that similar tests have been carried out in districts such as Kumi and Yumbe. 

Ogwang explained that in Yumbe, out of 340 women who turned up for the test,  53 tested positive for the silent killer;whilst in Kumi out of the 300 that turned up for the screening, 70 tested positive.

She noted that the current data they are obtaining following the tests will help them to lobby the government to come up with a clear plan to create awareness in an effort to reduce the spread of the disease. 

The majority of women in northern Uganda are forced to commute to Gulu town, since it is the only place in the region that offers cervical cancer testing services. 

The Centre Manager for Reproductive Health Uganda, Gulu branch, Miss Filda Anicia, told Acholi Times that in Gulu district some of the women come from remote areas such as Bungatira, Koro, Patiko, and Paicho among others. 

Anicia noted that each week, the centre receives more than ten women on average that attend and request their help. 

She added that since 2007, they have been carrying out outreach work in Labora, Paicho, Agung, and Cet kana in Bungatira sub county and Cuk  Owor in Patiko sub county to ease the burden of those who have to trek long distances. 

She revealed that during the insurgency, they operated within the settings of the internment camps, but ever since people started returning to their villages, they have been mapping out a way of moving this service closer to them.