Cervical Cancer: Lagos Ranks Lowest In Vaccination

Data from the National Primary Health care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has ranked Lagos State lowest (31 percent) in the ongoing Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for girls aged nine to 14.

Taraba, Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa have the highest vaccination rates at 98, 97 and 93 percent respectively.

HPV is the most common Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), and it is responsible for about 95 percent of cervical cancer, with an estimated 80 percent of sexually active individuals infected at some point in their lives.

Cervical cancer is the 2nd most frequent cancer among women in Nigeria, accounting for approximately 16 percent of all female cancers,

State immunisation officer, NPHCDA, Dr. Joseph Urang, said 12,075 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually in the country and 7,968 die from the disease

Urang stated this  at a media dialogue on Care for Small and Sick Newborns, Oxygen Availability and the Introduction of HPV Vaccine in Nigeria, organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, recently in Port Harcourt.

He said “About 3.5 percent of women in the general population are estimated to harbour cervical HPV-16/18 infection at a given time, and 66.9 percent of invasive cervical cancers are  attributed to HPVs 16 or 18.

“Most HPV infections are asymptomatic; about 90 percent of infections clear within two years, but some infections continue. Infection that continues can progress to cervical cancer with specific types of HPV (particularly types 16 and 18). This progression takes 20 years on average and tends to cause symptoms only after the cancer has reached an advanced stage.”

Speaking further, he said “Nigeria has a population of 56.2 million women ages 15 years and older who are at risk of developing cervical cancer.

“Current estimates indicate that every year 12,075 women are diagnosed with

cervical cancer and 7,968 die from the disease.

“Cervical cancer ranks as the 2nd most frequent cancer among women in Nigeria and the 2nd most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age.”

Meanwhile, the federal government, with the support of GAVI recently secured doses of HPV vaccine for the first phase of vaccination in 15 States and the FCT, targeting about 7.7 million girls (aged 9 to 14).

The states include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Taraba, and FCT.

Impressively, the country has achieved 78percent national coverage.

However, Margaret Adaba Soyemi from UNICEF,  in her presentation at the media dialogue, tasked the media on addressing misinformation about HPV and vaccines.

She urged against sensational headlines and reports that can damage the efforts to combat cervical cancer.