Rasaqiwa To Create Awareness, Enlighten Public On Cervical Cancer
Twenty-one-year-old Selai Rasaqiwa wants to create awareness and enlighten members of the public on the dreaded cervical cancer.
She will make use of the opportunity to advocate on this particular subject during this year’s Bula Festival in Nadi which will be held from July 27 to August 3. She hopes to give a general view of cervical cancer, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. of the cancer, which is the abnormal growth of cells in the cervix, the neck of the uterus.
“It is one of the leading causes of death among women in Fiji. Research by the Ministry of Health statistics (2013 - 2018) showed that 1010 women died from cervical cancer,” Ms Rasaqiwa said. “The ages at risk are between 18 and 35 years. 40 years above are not at risk but should continue checks with their doctors examination.”
She added that the Nadi Bula Festival would be an ideal platform to voice her concerns on the subject.
“Being a contestant will also help me to be more confident in
front of a crowd,” Ms Rasaqiwa said.
“I’m not really a shy person, however this provides a good platform to create awareness about Cervical Cancer in Fiji.” Ms Rasaqiwa is sponsored by Missing Minerals, a skin improving product company based in Nadi and founded in Australia in 2017. She is a medical student at the University of Fiji.
“I want to become a specialist or a surgeon with further studies and achieve my dream in medicine,” she said.
“I’m the youngest of three siblings and we were brought up by my mum and the extended family. “Dad passed away when I was three years old, but mum had always worked hard to provide for me and my siblings.”
The Rakiraki native shared her intention to become a doctor. “Two of my cousins inspired me to achieve my goal. One is a doctor in the military and another cousin who studied medicine but did not complete it, is a teacher at Queen Victoria School,” she said. “He has been pushing me to pursue my dreams, to study hard and achieve good grades.”
Edited by Percy Kean