2:23
- culture
- June 29, 2021
Ciara encourages cervical cancer screening
Ciara is part of a new initiative to spread awareness about cervical cancer.
2:23
She said she initially wasn’t too keen on attending these screenings, like many other women when approaching their well-woman exams.
\"I think for all of us women, when you think about doing that well-woman exam, it's like, ‘Oh Lord!’\" she shared. \"I don't know what it is -- there's just something psychological -- it’s the simplest thing to do, but it’s the idea of the whole process, I guess.\"
\"So I did go through that phase, and now honestly, it's something I look forward to,\" she continued. \"I like being on top of my stuff, I like knowing everything is good across the board for my total wellness and this is a part of it.\"
Setting an example for her daughter also influenced Ciara to speak out on the importance of screenings.
\"One day, my daughter, she may have a daughter, and so I think about all the young girls around the world and just being able to inspire,\" she said on increasing attention around cervical cancer.
\"Ultimately I just want to be able to be here and witness the special moments in my kids’ lives, and so whatever it takes to do that, I'm going to do it,\" she added.
She hopes using her voice to encourage Black women to get educated about cervical cancer will reduce the disparity in the future.
\"It really doesn't have to be the case,\" she said about Black women in the U.S. dying at a higher rate from the disease. \"We're living in a different time ... being able to increase the access and equity for all is huge.
\"I hope that we can really work on this together and let's change this narrative,\" she added. \"Let's shift it, it's time.\"
The singer also has a message for Black women who might be hesitant to prioritize or attend their screenings.
\"I want to encourage that sweet, beautiful, powerful, incredible Black woman to go out there and be on top of your stuff,\" she said.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/Ciara-1-ht-er-210624_1624557345265_hpEmbed_4x5_384.jpg\")
She went on, \"Self-care is the best care, and in this case, by doing your well-woman exam, you are able to really be on top of your stuff and you really can serve some confidence in every aspect when you know yourself more in this way. So don't be afraid, it's really simple.\"
Added Shepherd: \"The more that we take time to acknowledge these inequalities and to focus on the importance of what we can do individually, but also as organizations and also as health care providers to make sure that we're improving women's health, then I think that that's what is going to be the most important thing that all of us can do is to bring awareness to these topics.\"
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