-Avier Wanjou Brass-

Cousins!

Ciara is hopeful for improved health narratives for Black women and it involves her being an advocate for cervical care!

According to AfroTech, the R&B songstress recently penned a letter to NBC for cervical care. In a recent study, Black women die at a higher rate than any other racial or ethnic group in the nation, becoming an eye-opener since cancer is preventable and treatable. Due to medical bias and racial disparities, Black women tend to be left behind in medical care.

Ciara writes, “The common narrative around Black women and cervical cancer is that we are ‘disproportionately’ affected by it. Astonishingly, Black women are twice as likely to die from cervical cancer than white women, but it’s not because of biology — it’s because of health care disparities, systemic racism, and long-held inequities.”

She continues, “This must change. It’s time for us to champion a new narrative — one driven by confidence and strength that extends, rather than ends, a healthy and joyful life.” 

The “Level Up” singer hopes the rate of women in the US diagnosed with cervical cancer will decrease by encouraging women to get tested. But particularly Black women, by taking charge of their health. Participating in cervical screenings and scheduling regular OB/GYN visits for “a regular Pap test from ages 21-29, and Pap test and HPV test together starting at 30,” will help early detection and prevent cancer to an untreatable stage.

“Testing is done as part of your well-woman exam — it’s that easy. That’s what self-care is all about, and it’s how we begin to take control and change the narrative,” Ciara wrote.

Continuing, she writes, “But there’s more. When we know that we are doing everything we can to remain healthy, we are also building confidence in ourselves and our futures. By getting screened, we not only are acting with our best interests in mind but showing our daughters how to take care of themselves as they grow to become fierce Black women (like their mothers!).”

It is good to see Ciara use her star quality to bring awareness to cervical cancer and the disparities in medical care towards Black women. We love to see it.

(📸: Travis Matthews/SELF/https://www.self.com/story/ciara