By Lizzy Carr
Bauchi State chairperson, Nigeria cancer society, Dr. Habiba Ismail has called on parents to invest in the DC vaccination of their daughters with HPV vaccine to protect them against cervical cancer.
Speaking to our correspondent in Bauchi on this year world cancer day, the medical expert said cervical cancer is top on the list of cancers among women followed by breast cancer and for the male population prostrate, noting that the vaccine for girls age between 9 years and 26 years will help reduce morbidity and mortality associated to it.
“Unlike HIV, HPV has a vaccine that is given in 3 doses to girls who are not sexually active.Though it cost 45,000 Naira for the 3 doses, it is life saving. I enjoin parents to invest in the lives of their daughters”.
Dr. Ismail who is also a consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said that 1 in 10 patients is diagnosed with cervical cancer and that the human papaloma virus which is the cause of cervical cancer is sexually transmissible.
“In this part of the country our girls are exposed to sex at an early age because they are married off early and they are expose to cellular changes that usually goes unnoticed, also polygamy increase risk of cervical cancer”, said the expert.
She said for those who are already sexually active, they should expose themselves to regular screening at least after 3 years.
On the theme of this year tagged “Close the Care Gap”, the chairperson said that cannot be achieved unless governments increase the number of cancer care centres where patients can be diagnosed early and put on treatment .
“There is need for more functional radiotherapy machines. As of now, the entire North depends on one machine at the National Hospital Abuja.We do sent women with stage one cervical cancer but before they can assess therapy the disease must have advanced to stage 2”, said Dr. Isma’il.
The consultant also said that the key to cancer prevention is consistent awareness.
“People must have knowledge about cancer to be able to take informed decision, therapy is expensive beyond the reach of the vulnerable. Women should be inform about cancers in their gatherings”, said the expert.
Our correspondent reports that the World Cancer Day is celebrated every 4th February to create awareness about cancer and its impact on the population.