Experts: Cervical Cancer Is Second Leading Cause Of Death Among Women
Experts have confirmed that cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death amongst women in Nigeria with a mortality rate of 8000 and 12,000 new infections yearly. The disease remains the third most common cancer in the world and the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer globally.
According to medical experts, early detection and treatment remain very vital in the treatment and cure of patients who have been diagnosed with the disease reason why this year’s World Cervical Cancer Awareness Month celebration theme focuses on learning, prevention and screening.
Dr. Vera Inem, clinical service staff at APIN Public Health Initiatives while speaking in Oyo town during a cancer awareness programme organized by APIN in conjunction with the Oyo state government explained that women generally, particularly those who are already sexually active need to make regular screening, once in two to four years a practices as it helps to gather information of their present state of health’s, and in adverse situation get help early before the condition degenerates.
Dr. Vera in her speech said, “Cervical cancer is one of the common cancers with women, breast cancer is the first, I see a lot of government concerning cervical cancer and promoting health as relate to cervical cancer, so I believe APIN is doing a lot of things concerning cervical cancer and other aspects.”
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“I believe that the government is trying and there’s still room for more to be done in the area of cervical cancer, particularly because prevention is better than cure, Most of what we are doing here is basically prevention and health promotion and we want all our women to be prevented from cervical cancer. I believe that this is a call for the government to look into the treatment, particularly the promotion of health in the area of cervical cancer.”
However, she noted women who are already living with HIV are at higher risk, as they are three times predisposed to having the disease, hence screening for cervical cancer should be done at least once every year to ascertain their conditions.
Dr Habib Olawale, also of the Apin public health initiative, further noted that the theme for this year is apt, as the levels of awareness in the country as of this day is very low, and should be worked on by the government and all stakeholders.
While he also aligned his views with Dr. Inem on the importance of early detection of cervical cancer and how it has been confirmed to play a significant role in saving a life, he said 22 facilities in the state presently have thermal ablation machines provided by the US government to aid the treatment of cervical cancer at an early stage.
However, Dr. Ijeoma Okolie, the Technical Associate, of the Clinical Services Directorate at Apin Public Health Initiative stresses the need for the government to raise the standard as regards prompt and efficient sensitization of the public on cervical cancer
While she applauded the government for the level of awareness in the past, she stated that is necessary for the information to go viral, using all available tools to change the perspective women in this part of the world have about this deadly disease, which is curable if detected early.
