Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 7:11 PM
Casablanca – The Moroccan Association of General Practitioners Sonographers (AMECHO) organized, Sunday in Casablanca, an open day to raise awareness of cervical cancer, for the benefit of general practitioners.
Organized in partnership with the Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS) and with the support of MSD (Merck Sharp and Dohme), this day aims to raise awareness among the medical profession of the importance of prevention, screening and early care, indicate the Association and the UM6SS in a press release.
In Morocco, cancer of the cervix is a real public health problem, being the second most common cancer in women behind breast cancer, in terms of its frequency and its mortality rate, underlines the same source, noting that the cancer prevention and control plan, drawn up by the Lalla Salma Foundation in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, places the prevention of cervical cancer among its priority actions.
Indeed, the press release continues, the Ministry of Health has planned the introduction, in the national vaccination schedule, of the vaccine against HPV (Human Papillomavirus), the main cause of the development of precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix. .
“We are organizing this day in order to raise awareness among healthcare professionals about cervical cancer, but above all about the importance of vaccination. Cervical cancer is today the only cancer that can be prevented through vaccination, so it is the most important weapon in the fight against this cancer,” said Doctor Abdellatif Achibet, President of the AMECHO.
“Access to this vaccine is possible in the private sector and will soon be in the public sector, and we must all join our efforts in order to contribute to the elimination of this disease”, added Mr. Achibet, quoted in the press release.
For his part, Professor Chakib Nejjari, President of the UM6SS said he was “delighted to host this scientific event on the premises of the University and to raise awareness among the medical profession about cervical cancer. Our vocation in essence is to train and inform about news, the latest advances in our country and progress in terms of prevention, screening and management in general and specifically in the case of cervical cancer. uterus, given that Morocco plans to include it in the vaccination schedule”.
For his part, Jaafar Heikel, Professor of Medicine, Epidemiologist, specialist in infectious diseases and Health Economics, indicated that this day is important because it aims to mobilize health professionals, in particular general practitioners and to make them aware of the challenges of cervical cancer, being the most frequent and fatal cancer after breast cancer.
“The data proves to us that in Morocco, its incidence is high compared to other countries in North Africa or other countries that have the same population profile. Today, we want to demonstrate the value of prevention, which saves lives but above all reduces the economic impact of cervical cancer,” said Professor Heikel.
This day is an opportunity to draw up the epidemiological situation, to present the latest statistics as well as the impact of cervical cancer in Morocco and to share the latest news in this area, whether in terms of etiologies, diagnostic or treatment tools.
It also aims to highlight the importance of the protocol recently adopted by the Ministry of Health and acting on three components, namely vaccination, screening and treatment.