An actor cum politician, Desmond Elliot and a non governmental organisation, Breast Without Spots, during a walk to mark this year’s World Cancer Day, called for the inclusion of Human Papilloma Virus vaccination awareness in the already existing cancer control programme of Lagos State Ministry of Health.
Elliot, a member of the State House of Assembly, said he would move the motion for the inclusion, as this would further help in bringing awareness to Nigerians and women in particular, on the need to protect themselves against cervical cancer.
According to him, "the HPV vaccine costs about a hundred dollars (N30, 000) per person, and that is a lot. So, what I'm trying to advocate, is for government to include it in the cancer-control programme.
Elliot explained that Lagos State has done what it could to have a cancer centre, where it does advocacy, test, among others, adding that what they want to do is include awareness against cancer. During the walk from Adeniran Ogunsanya through Bode Thomas Street, specifically on cervical cancer, the House member, affirmed that sensitisation will continue as the Federal Government brings in the vaccine to Nigeria.
He noted that African society does not have adequate measures to prevent or alert the people on things that can cause cancer. “People need to understand there are certain things they need to stay away from or some things they shouldn't take in excess. These things happen with our blood cells and once they do not develop well, they become cancerous. Prostate cancer is the one killing men. Once you get to age 40, you need to do the screening. People need to be sensitised of these things,” he noted. Meanwhile, in a bid to forge ahead with plans to save Nigerian women from dying from cervical cancer, President and Founder of BWS, Professor Ifeoma Okoye in collaboration with Lakeshore Cancer Centre, educated over 700 members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lagos on cancer prevention. Participants were screened for cervical, prostate and breast cancer, blood pressure, blood sugar and BMI.
The Professor of Radiology disclosed that the organisation, in collaboration with 'Image Diagnostics' had a road walk as well as conducted free cancer screening from February 3rd to 5th in Port-Harcourt.
“While BWS youths and NYSC members raised their sleeves to promote the online campaign #vaccine4cancer, which was launched in Lagos last month, it held an outreach in an open market and conducted subsidised breast, cervical and prostate cancer screening in Enugu State.
“This is all in an attempt to curb the needless deaths from cervical cancer among Nigerian women and girls. We need to let parents know about this threat and give them the opportunity to vaccinate and protect their girls," Okoye said.
Okoye further suggested that if mothers sacrificially forgo spending on the next fashion item in the market, they can save enough to vaccinate their daughters.
In the same vein, the National Programme Manager, Ms. Lola James said there was need for Nigerians to be aware of the vaccines. "They need to know now that there is the vaccine that can prevent cervical cancer.
“As an NGO, we talk about sustainability of a project. Vaccines are still very much expensive. What we can do is more advocacy for the government of Nigeria to apply for the global vaccine allowance to get it. Other countries are doing it.
By: Rebecca Ejifoma
This Day Live News
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