The Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, has disclosed that over 8,000 Nigerians have died from cervical cancer in the last four years
The FMC Senior Registrar, Department of Anatomy Pathology, National Hospital, Dr Kwapmi Nicholas, who revealed this at a cancer awareness exercise in Abuja, said those affected were within their reproductive age.
He encouraged parents to ensure that their children regularly go for check ups and also to eat healthy meals to prevent the disease.
Nicholas said: “Cervical cancer is a preventable disease. No woman should die from it because there are things in place to prevent cancer from occurring. Worldwide, it is the second disease after breast cancer in women.
“It is responsible for 500,000 deaths worldwide. In Nigeria as of 2020, we had 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer.
“There were 8,000 deaths in Nigeria. People that are commonly affected are those within the reproductive age. And the risk factors include multiple sexual partners, smoking and early age of sex.
“According to a study, it was discovered that those who had the virus were women under age 25. So, you can imagine.
“The good thing is that the body is able to take care of this cancer by about 50% within 8 months. Then 90 per cent within 12 months with the prevention in place, many people can be protected.”
Also, Abuja Chapter Chairman Federal Government College Kaduna Old Students Association (FGCKADOSA), Bola Aduroshakin, said the campaign against cervical cancer would be taken across the 774 local government areas in the country.
He added that with the “kind of health insurance we have in our alumni, members can access healthcare anywhere in the country.”
“And it is as little as N25,000. You have health cover for a whole year, and it spreads across your family members, friends and loved ones as long as you are connected to the alumni,” he stressed.
