Concerns have been raised by health sector stakeholders about the escalating cases of cervical Cancer in light of World Health Organization (WHO) data, which indicated that the disease claims at least 7,968 lives annually in the country. It was observed that cervical cancer accounted for about 16 percent of all female cancers and is the second most frequent malignancy among Nigerian women. The experts discussed this during a vaccination awareness and uptake event held in Lagos by Pathfinder, co-sponsored by the Lagos State Primary Health Care Development Board, Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) and Nigeria Cancer Society.
According to Dr. Adeniji Adebayo of the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, Nigeria has one of the highest occurrence rates of cervical cancer globally. He claims that it has a negative impact on women’s physical health and as well takes a toll on families and communities. Adebayo said Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world, is the leading cause of cervical cancer. It can infect the mouth, throat, and genital regions in both men and women.
12,000 new cases were reported across the nation in 2020.
On her part, Dr. Funmi Ige, President of MWAN, emphasized that parents should encourage their children, especially young girls between the ages of 9 and 14, to get the vaccine. Cervical cancer remains a major Public Health concern in the country, with an approximate yearly incidence rate of 33 cases per 100,000 women. Annually, 7968 women lose their lives to the disease, with 12075 people receiving a diagnosis. HPV types 16, 18, 31, 35, 51, and 52 are all common and high-risk serotypes in the country but serotypes 16 and 18 account for at least 70 percent of the prevalence of cervical cancer.
Within the country, this disease is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among Women in Nigeria between the ages of 15 and 44. 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer and 8,000 fatal cases were reported across the nation in 2020. Due to late-stage detection and limited access to adequate treatment, Nigeria has a comparatively poor five-year survival rate for the cancer. Cervical cancer screening rates are poor in Nigeria with merely 8.7 percent of women between the ages of 25 and 64 are reported to have never had a screening.
Nigeria aims to immunize 7.7 million girls in the country.
High mortality rates and delayed diagnosis are caused in part by low awareness and limited access to screening facilities in the nation. Inadequate healthcare infrastructure, cultural norms, lack of health education, and financial limitations are some of the obstacles to effective early detection and control of the disease . In an effort to combat the virus that is responsible for almost all cases of the disease, Nigeria incorporated the human papillomavirus vaccine into its regular immunization program in October 2023 with the goal of immunizing 7.7 million girls, the greatest number of girls in Africa for a single round of HPV vaccination.
Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, had stated that it is totally intolerable that a preventable disease is responsible for the demise of approximately 8,000 Nigerian women each year. He added that HPV is the primary cause of the disease and that parents can safeguard their children with a single dosage of the vaccination to spare themselves financial and medical hardship. It is advised that girls between the ages of 9 and 14 receive the vaccination since it is most effective before exposure to the virus. The first deployment, which took place in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory, involves a five-day mass immunization program in schools and communities.
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The second phase of the immunization was rolled out in May 2024, across 21 states. With the vaccine campaign underway, it presents us the chance to protect our girls against the deadly disease. About 15 million HPV vaccinations have been procured by United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), on behalf of the Nigerian government. With support from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, World Health Organization, and other partners, the Federal Ministry of Health is offering the vaccine at no cost through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.