Curbing the spate of cervical cancer

IT is no surprise that globally, 75 percent of  people are cancerphobia even in this 21st century. The fear is understandable given the uncontrollable nature of the cancerous tissues expressing themselves in the form of abnormal cell growth spreading rapidly to other parts of the body with deadly tendencies without medical cure for it yet. For experts, cancer is classified into two;-benign and malign.  When a cancer is benign (Benignant) –  it means, it is not harmful or deadly to the affected  part of the body and has no tendency to spread but when it is malign (Malignant) it is said to be deadly and harmful, with capacity to spread rapidly to all parts of the body. With recent increase in the rate of people affected by cancer globally, there is a great concern to know what are the causes of this dreaded disease.   Findings showthat there is no single cause of cancer but Scientists believethat it occurs through,or as a result of many factors.  These factors may be genetic, environmental or a result of constituent characteristics of an individual which differs from person to person. Some of the general risk factors associated with occurrence of cancer  include: aging, family history, addiction to tobacco, alcohol, over weight, some viral infection, exposure to specific chemicals and radiation, among others. However, , early detection of this deadly disease is key. So paying  attention and reporting common symptoms such as: pain, weight loss, fatigue, fever, changes in skin, sores that refuse to heal, persistent  cough, unusual bleeding, among others will go a long way in determining proper intervention.

One shocking fact about this disease is that it can take decades to develop in the body.  Although it is believed  that it is more common among adults, it is however not exclusively an adult phenomenon.  It can also be diagnosed at any age and among any gender in any given society. As a matter of fact, the alarming rate of deaths recorded globally  from the disease has prompted collective efforts towards curbing its  menace. One such intervention is the United Nations resolution which set aside February 4 yearly as World Cancer Day.This is aimed at creating awareness about the disease as a Public Health issue, inspire actions for a cancer free society and make government at all levels rise up to fight the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO), estimated the top 5 commonest types of cancer found in Nigeria to include; breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostrate cancer , non hodgkin lymphoma and liver cancer. The female gender in Nigeria,also face two major types of cancer to include;  Breast and Cervical Cancer. The Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IAR ) 2023 factsheet suggests that a population of 60.9 Million women the world over, from ages 15 are at the risk of developing Cervical Cancer. Cervical refers to the anatomy of women pertaining to the cervix – the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina.

The pathetic news is that the disease is growing fast among women. Current estimates indicate that every year, 12,075 women are diagnosed with Cervical Cancer and 7,968 die from the disease. going by this statisticsthen, something has to be done fast to arrest the situation irrespective of the socio-economic challenges the people are going through.  The question then Is, can this disease be cured permanently after being diagnosed?  Expert disclosed that the best way out of issue is to prevent it completely. Why not preventing it, rather than going through the stress of curing which may eventually lead to death. A writer, scientist, inventor and political philosopher, Benjamin Frankling once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” while an Irish Surgeon, Dennis Parsons Burkitt said, “Disease can rarely be eliminated through early diagnosis or good treatment, but prevention can eliminate disease.”

This would certainly explain the mindset of the Ogun State Government, when it embrace  introduction of the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine (HPVV)into routine immunization,commencing it’s administration on girls children at early ageof between 9 and 14 years.This is geared towards arresting the “Dreaded” disease called Cervical Cancer among girls. Being a proactive government, this action makes Ogun part of the first set of states in Nigeria to key into the Federal Government Scheme to prevent the spread of Cervical Cancer among girls through the introduction of Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine (HPVV) into the routine immunization schedule in the State. A medical expert, Dr.  Tomi Coker,who served as commissioner for health in Ogun State between 2019 and 2023, and who is presently Prince Abiodun’s Special Adviser on Health, affirms in no uncertain terms that Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is the most common viral infection in the reproductive tract,causing more than 95 percent cases of Cervical Cancer which is the 4th leading cancer in women globally and 2nd most common affecting women in Nigeria in 2020. To achieve the desired results, the implementation of the vaccination will be appliedin phases. the first phase will commence in 16 States of the Federation including Ogun.

In this, 997,042 girls between ages 9 and 14 will be vaccinated across the 20 Local Government Areas of the State.

A German born Theoretical Physicist, Albert Einstein said, “Intellectuals solve problems, geniuses prevent them”.  This summarises the determination of the Governor DapoAbiodun led administration to follow the path of preventing a disease from occuring than spending on curing what can not be totally eliminated. The National Primary Health Care Development Board (NPHCDB), should be commended for this initiative.Accordingly, the efforts of  our dear State, be among  the leading states in Nigeria to key into the introduction of HPVV into routine immunization scheme is very laudable  As stakeholders, parents, teachers, religious and traditional leaders, media outfits, among others must jointly put their  hands on deck, to embrace the introduction of HPVV into routine immunization scheme in the State in order to prevent the growing rate  of Cervical Cancer among our female gender.  Everyone must join the drive towards safeguarding the lives of our girls at all cost.Furthermore, the citizenry is encouraged to desist from reading any negative meaninginto routine immunizationintroduced for the benefit of the people.

When this initiative is welcome, and people desist from misconceptions related to vaccines, parentsand families will altogether experience peace psychologically because when any girl has this disease in a family, all her loved ones will be affected. Embracing this vaccinationis hoped, will go a long way to fighting and arresting the deadly disease early.

• Ogunlami writes in from Ogun State