The UN says cervical cancer is both preventable and curable with proper access to screening, vaccination and treatment.
UN, in a statement on Friday, stated that cervical cancer, was the fourth most common cancer in women, devoting January each year for Cancer Awareness campaign.
Cervical cancer is a reproductive cancer that develops in a woman’s cervix and can spread to other parts of the body if not detected or treated early.
In 2022, an estimated 660,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 350,000 women died from the disease, according to WHO.
UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, warns that the illness takes away a woman’s life every two minutes.
Almost all cervical cancer cases are linked to infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV) – an extremely common virus transmitted through sexual contact.
Most sexually active people will have HPV at some point. In most cases, the immune system clears the virus naturally but persistent infection with certain carcinogenic types of HPV can cause abnormal cell growth that may ultimately develop into cancer.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) stressed that cervical cancer is both preventable and curable with proper access to screening, vaccination and treatment.
WHO recommends vaccination for HPV for all girls aged 9–14, before they become sexually active and cervical screening from the age of 30 (25 years for women living with HIV).
When diagnosed, it is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer, if it is detected early and managed effectively.
Unequal access to prevention and treatment, however, remains a problem, leading to higher rates of incidence and mortality in some regions of the world like sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and Southeast Asia.
In 2020, 194 countries initiated a global strategy with the goal of eliminating cervical cancer. The day it was launched, November 17, now marks World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.
According to WHO, the strategy sets three targets to be achieved by 2030:
It said, “90 per cent of girls to be fully vaccinated for HPV by age 15.
“70 per cent of women to be screened with a high-performance test by age 35 and again at 45.
“70 per cent of women diagnosed to receive treatment.”
The strategy estimates that succeeding in eliminating cervical cancer could avert 74 million new cases and prevent 62 million deaths by 2120.
—-Essentials to Note—–
Cervical cancer develops in the cervix from abnormal cell growth, almost always caused by persistent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection; it’s largely preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screening (Pap tests/HPV tests), with early detection via screening crucial for curable treatment, though advanced stages require surgery, chemo, or radiation. Symptoms often appear late, including unusual bleeding (after sex, between periods), abnormal discharge, or pelvic pain, with Pap smears and HPV tests key for diagnosis.
Causes & Risk Factors
· HPV: Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types is the primary cause.
· Weakened Immune System: HIV infection or immunosuppressive drugs increase risk.
· Smoking: Smokers are more likely to develop cervical cancer.
· Childbirth History: Multiple pregnancies or early childbirth.
· Other Factors: DES exposure in utero, history of other cancers, long-term oral contraceptive use.
Symptoms (Often Late Stage)
· Abnormal vaginal bleeding (after sex, between periods, heavier periods).
· Unusual vaginal discharge.
· Pain during intercourse.
· Pelvic pain or lower backache.
· Symptoms of advanced cancer: blood in urine/stool, leg swelling, fatigue.
——Cervical Cancer: HPV Vaccine Is Safe, Serves As Lifelong Prevention — Minister—–
Prof. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, says the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is safe for girls and serves as lifelong prevention against cervical cancer.
He said this in Abuja while fielding questions from newsmen after a visit to the Kuchigoro Primary Health Care (PHC) Centre in Abuja, in company of the Director of Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation.
He said that the vaccine was unveiled on Tuesday to prevent young girls aged nine to 14 years from cervical cancer.
He debunked misconceptions about the vaccine, saying “those who choose not to take the inoculation are making a mistake.
“All my four daughters were vaccinated against HPV. I believe no father or mother that is in his or her right senses and fully understands the benefits of vaccines to prevent diseases will allow their children to not be vaccinated, especially if the vaccines are free.
“Our focus is to make this voluntary; there are not enough of these vaccines, those who choose not to receive it, they are making a mistake for their children, because they are exposing them to the risk of having diseases.”
Pate added that cervical cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths among women in Nigeria.
He, however, said that receiving the vaccine is not compulsory; government is only doing its duty by making it available for citizens.
He said “we saw how community leaders played incredible roles in our efforts to deal with polio in this country and polio is now history.
“We also have other vaccine-preventable diseases, including cancer and we believe that our traditional leaders will continue to play the role to educate our people.
“Check diphtheria, a very simple disease that has already afflicted thousands of children in this country, with 90 per cent of those infected not vaccinated, so it tells you that if they had been vaccinated, they will not have it.”
Lending her voice to the matter, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), said that the major tool in ensuring the vaccine reached everywhere was through health promotion and advocacy.
Others are information, education and using viable tools like the media, religious leaders, the government, mothers and market women.
“It has been a success so far, for the minister to say his four daughters have been vaccinated.”
The Federal Government launched the HPV vaccine initiative on Tuesday for girls between the age of nine and 14 years to guard against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause about 70 per cent of cervical cancer.
The vaccination targets over seven million girls, with the girls receiving a single dose of the vaccine.
