Windhoek: Health experts have raised concern over the growing number of Namibian women presenting with advanced cervical cancer, warning that late diagnosis continues to undermine treatment outcomes despite the disease being largely preventable. Speaking during a cervical cancer awareness dialogue in Windhoek on Thursday, clinical and radiation oncologist Dr. Laina Iiyambo said statistics show that many patients only seek medical care when the disease has already reached advanced stages. According to Namibia Press Agency, Dr. Iiyambo explained that early detection significantly improves survival chances, noting that patients diagnosed in early stages can often be cured through surgery alone. 'When we reviewed our multidisciplinary team records, we found that about 40 per cent of cases we are seeing are already at stage three disease, while only 14 per cent are early-stage cancers,' she said. 'We want patients to come to us when the cancer is still in its early stages, because it becomes easier to manage and requires less aggressive treatment,' she added. She further noted that fear of treatment side effects and lack of screening awareness contribute to delays in seeking medical care. Over 50 per cent of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer had never undergone screening. 'Cervical cancer is curable, and no woman is supposed to die from it if it is detected early. We need stronger screening programmes and awareness campaigns, especially at primary healthcare level,' she stressed. World Health Organisation (WHO) Non-Communicable Diseases Officer, Dr. Laimi Ashipala echoed similar concerns, highlighting the global burden of cervical cancer, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. 'Around 660 000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year globally, with the African region carrying the highest burden,' she said. Ashipala explained that the WHO cervical cancer elimination strategy targets vaccinating 90 per cent of girls against human papillomavirus (HPV) by age 15, screening 70 per cent of women using high-per formance tests, and ensuring 90 per cent of diagnosed patients receive treatment. 'These numbers represent real people, families and communities, and the disease is largely preventable through vaccination, screening and timely treatment,' she said. The dialogue, organised by the Thrive Reproductive and Maternal Health Foundation, forms part of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and aims to strengthen national efforts toward eliminating the disease.