Author: Priscilla Akorfa Fomevor

The vulva is not just anatomy; it is a living landscape. It is the soft, protective folds of the outer lips, the delicate inner lips, the hidden seat of sensation, and the gateway to life itself. This region, rich with unique color and texture, is a core part of female identity—a terrain of both power and profound vulnerability. The outer folds, the labia majora, are soft and protective. Within them lie the more delicate labia minora, framing the entrance. Here rests the clitoris, a center of sensation, and below, the openings to the urethra and vagina. This landscape varies in…

For years, ovarian cancer has lived under a quiet and misleading name—the “silent killer.” This label speaks less to the truth of the illness and more to our struggle to hear it. The difficulty is not that it makes no sound, but that its language is easily mistaken. Its symptoms borrow the common grammar of everyday discomfort: a swelling in the belly that lingers, a sudden feeling of fullness after a small meal, a dull pressure low in the pelvis, or a new urgency to use the bathroom. Alone, these signs are easy to dismiss. Together, and when they persist…

Penile cancer develops through the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the tissues of the penis. Its relative rarity can, paradoxically, become one of its greatest risks. Because it is uncommon, both men and sometimes healthcare providers may not immediately consider it, allowing early signs to be overlooked or dismissed. Yet when caught early, treatment is often highly effective and less invasive, offering a strong chance at recovery while preserving function and form. Several factors can increase a man’s risk, and awareness of them is a crucial part of prevention. Infection with certain strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV,…

In our quest for radiant skin and the perfect shade, we often focus on the promises printed on the label: hydration, renewal, a brighter complexion. Yet, some of the most significant risks in personal care products come from ingredients that frequently go unlisted. Heavy metals like lead and mercury can be silent stowaways in everyday items, from a tube of lipstick to a jar of skin-lightening cream. Unlike ingredients that wash away, these toxins pose a unique danger because they can accumulate within the body over years of use, creating a burden that lasts long after the product is gone.…

A new report from the United Nations World Health Organization has delivered a powerful and hopeful message in the global fight against cancer: nearly four in ten cancer cases worldwide are preventable. Released on the eve of World Cancer Day, the study identifies clear, actionable steps that governments and individuals can take to avert millions of diagnoses and save countless lives. The research, a collaboration between the WHO and its International Agency for Research on Cancer, provides the most detailed global analysis to date of cancer’s preventable causes. For the first time, the study integrates nine cancer-causing infections—such as human…

When we speak of cancer survival, we often speak in the language of medicine: remission, recovery, and resilience. These terms mark the triumphant end of a physical battle. Yet, for the survivor standing before the mirror in the quiet aftermath of treatment, a different, more personal war often begins. This is the internal struggle with a body that feels foreign and a self that feels lost—a profound mental health crisis born from body image disturbance and a shattered sense of identity. The trauma of cancer is not left behind in the treatment chair or the surgical suite; it is etched…

When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, a natural wave of questions follows. Amidst concerns about treatment and recovery, one quiet worry sometimes surfaces: “Can I catch it?” The resounding answer from the medical community is a firm and reassuring no. Cancer, in the course of ordinary daily life, is not a contagious disease. You cannot contract it from the air someone breathes, from their touch, or by sharing a meal. This fundamental truth is rooted in biology. Cancer arises from mutations within an individual’s own cells, leading to uncontrolled growth. These cells are uniquely tailored to the person…

The President of the Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET), Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, has stated that 80% of new HIV cases in Ghana are linked to sexual transmission, highlighting the need for increased focus on prevention strategies and awareness programs. The disclosure reported by classfmonline.com, provides a critical data point for health officials and signals a need to re-evaluate current prevention strategies. While mother-to-child transmission and other routes like blood transfusions account for the remaining cases, the overwhelming dominance of sexual transmission highlights a troubling gap between public awareness and private behavior. Public health analysts suggest the nation is dealing…

Across Africa, a health care revolution is unfolding not in high-tech hospitals, but in the pockets of community health workers. Armed with little more than a smartphone and a portable microscope, these workers are now able to diagnose life-threatening diseases in minutes—a task that once took days or weeks. A new report from Global Voices highlights how artificial intelligence is being deployed across the continent to tackle a stark reality: sub-Saharan Africa bears 24 percent of the global disease burden but has access to only 3 percent of the world’s health workers. “In 2024, a 28-year-old maize farmer in Siaya…

With the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline looming, a dire warning has been issued: Africa must urgently accelerate efforts to eliminate cervical cancer or risk failing an entire generation of women. CDA Consult, a development advocacy firm, released a statement on Tuesday, 10th February, 2026 highlighting what it describes as a widening gap between global elimination targets and on-the-ground reality across the continent. Cervical cancer, a disease that is virtually preventable, continues to claim the lives of African women at rates far exceeding those in higher-income regions. The World Health Organisation’s strategy for eliminating cervical cancer hinges on three ambitious…