By Odunayo Oluwabukola, Ibadan
Cervical cancer has be confirmed to be the second leading cause of death amongst women in nigeria with a mortality rate of 8000 and 12,000 new infections yearly.
As it stands, 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 treatments remains very vital in the treatment and cure for patients who have being diagnosed with the disease reason why this years world cervical cancer awareness months celebration theme focuses on learn, prevent and screen.
Dr. Vera Inem, a clinical service staff at APIN Public Health Initiative while speaking in Oyo town during a cancer awareness programme organized by APIN in conjunction with 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 cancer 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 aspect.”
“I believe that 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, health promotion and we want all our women to be prevent from cervical cancer.”
“I believe that this is a call for government to look into the treatment, particularly promotion of health in the area of cervical cancer.” Vera said.
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 Apin public health initiative, who further noted that the theme for this years is apt, as the levels of awareness in the country as at 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 have being confirmed to play a significant role in saving life, he said presently 22 facilities in the state presently have thermal ablation machine provided by the US government to aid the treatment of cervical cancer at early stage.
However Dr. Ijeoma Okolie, the Technical Associate, Clinical Services Directorate at Apin public health initiative stresses the need for government to raise the standard as regards prompt and efficient sensitization of the public’s on cervical cancer.
While she applauded the government for level of awareness in past, she opined that give needs to make the information go viral , using all tools available, so as to change the perspective women in this part if the world have about this deadly disease which is curable if detected early.