The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria in collaboration with Peramare Medical Services Limited, have donated 1,000 free cervical screening tests for women using the innovative Illumigyn Gynescope device.
Managing Director, Peramare Medical, Ms Deinma Sekibo, disclosed this during an event to commemorate the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) in Abuja.
NAN reports that the IWD is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women’s rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.
Sekibo said providing free cervical screening testing for women was in line with the goals of Peramare-Illumigyn Africa initiative to eradicate cervical cancer in Africa.
She said the initiative seeks to achieve this by screening two million women in Africa annually by supplying the Illumygyn Gynescope free of charge to health care facilities across the continent, as well as subsidizing the cost of the test.
“This is collaboration between Peramare Medical and the Illumigyn Company which is an Israeli-based femtech company. So it is feminine technology hoping to address issues that affect women.
“So, our plan is to increase access to screening that is in line with what we have done today by donating 1,000 free cervical cancer screening tests using the Illumigyn gynescope.
“What the Illumigyn gynescope does is that it allows you to visualise the cervix identify suspicious lesions and helps in diagnosis of cervical cancer with a quicker turnaround time
“It is not just for that (cervical cancer screening) we can use it for other gynaecological examinations regardless of what you want to see.
“For the 1,000 free tests, women are to report to Planned Parenthood and they will link them to St. Catharine’s and the testing will be done free of charge.
“Our goal is to test two million women annually in the whole of Africa. And our goal is to actively work to eradicate cervical cancer
“The thing about cervical cancer is that it is treatable, so long as you detect it on time. So really, what we want is to raise awareness of the importance of testing, which is to go to your gynaecologist, request a test and check your cervix just to make sure that nothing is going on; usually every three years, as long as you’re sexually active.
“We are at the point of creating awareness, reaching out to stakeholders, and looking for partners really, in this project.
“We are partnering with a number of clinics and St Catherine’s is one of them. So we are signing clinics on, we are signing on organisations.
“We already have a bit of a partnership with Planned Parenthood at this point in time, and we hope to partner with more organisations going forward, especially NGOs,” Sekibo said.
Our goal is to test two million women annually in the whole of Africa, and to actively work to eradicate cervical cancer. The thing about cervical cancer is that it is treatable, so long as you detect it on time.
Israeli Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria, Inbar Garden, said the Embassy is promoting the project knowing the importance of a woman’s health care.
Garden said that as the world continues to call for actions to accelerate gender parity, making standard, accessible and affordable healthcare for women across the African continent should not be underestimated.
“Like I said in my speech, I think a woman’s survival is something that is very important. One of the things that need to be improved is women’s health.
“And this is why we choose to promote this project because I think it is very important. And if we put effort into health care, we can only go higher from there,” Garden said.
Also speaking, Dr John Okoye, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist with St Catherine’s Clinic, said the innovative Illumigyn machine will advance testing, and accurate diagnosis of cervical cancer in women.
Okoye said the novel technology with high resolution images and magnification of the cervix also allows the patient to see what whatever is going on inside the cervix alongside the doctor.
“It is an equipment that is useful for the screening and diagnosis of cervical screening and can be used for other things as long as the challenge is within the vagina and the cervix.
“I want to thank Peramare for launching this, it was delivered to be used free of charge, and it is going to be a life-changing equipment for a lot of women.
“And I equally want to encourage every woman who is up to 21 years old, and sexually active, to have her cervix screened.” Okoye said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports present at the event were Female and some male Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Members of the Diplomatic Community.
