By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has confirmed that despite preventable measures put in place, at least 28 women die daily of cervical cancer in the country.
NIMR highlighted on the need to vaccinate young girls and screen women to bridge the gap.
The Director of Research, NIMR, Prof. Oliver Ezechi, confirmed this while speaking during an event held to shed light on an upsurge of the pandemic among girls and women,
Ezechi, who called on the government at all levels to take health issues relating to women seriously, added that the ailment is preventable, saying 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.
“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,” Ezechi said
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.
According to him, 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.
