Sodiq Ojuroungbe
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research has said that despite preventable measures put in place, no fewer than 28 women die daily of cervical cancer in the country.
The institute harped on the need to vaccinate young girls and screen women to bridge the gap.
Speaking during an event held to shed light on an upsurge of the pandemic among girls and women, the Director of Research, NIMR, Prof. Oliver Ezechi, called on the government at all levels to take health issues relating to women seriously.
While insisting that the ailment is preventable, he noted that cervical cancer is rated the second most common cancer among women.
He, however, identified immunisation gaps, low knowledge, cultural difficulties, and screening as some of the barriers to the effective containment of cervical cancer.
Ezechi said, “Government should prioritise women’s health. Saving a woman is saving the nation because of their importance in the home.
“Yearly, about 12,000 women in Nigeria are diagnosed with the disease and almost 8,000 die from it. Every day about 28 Nigerian women die from cervical cancer. Persistent infection by high-risk human papillomavirus is the cause of many cancers including cervical cancers.”
The director explained that the event tagged ‘4GW’ is an interactive session where girls and women across Nigeria will work together to design and present their self-devised solutions to social and health issues.
He said that the designation is dedicated to developing solutions to promote HPV vaccination and screening among girls and women in Nigeria.
In his submission, a public health physician and researcher, Dr. Benedict Azuogu, said cervical cancer is very common among women of childbearing age.
“The cancer is presentable, some don’t believe it is preventable and it is very common.
“Many people don’t know that it is real and anyone of childbearing age is at risk. People that engaged in sexual intercourse can have it. But It is 100 per cent preventable through vaccination,” he added.
