The government of the United States is backing the federal government’s interest in having women and girls have cervical cancer self-test, speed up the prevention of the virally transmitted disease.
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research is at the forefront of the campaign.
In Nigeria at least 33 new cervical cancer cases are detected daily and 22 women also die daily as a result of the ailment.
The sexually transmitted human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 are the cause of cancer in the cervix of women, and because screening is done through the vagina, many women shy away from the test which involves taking a swab as this is worsening the statistics, the federal government has embarked on public enlightenment on the introduction of self-test to save the day.
As the deadly virus claims at least 8 000 lives in Nigeria annually, women are being asked to brace up to early screening.
In men, the human papillomavirus infects the penis if not detected early, for treatability it claims lives.
The World Health Organization says girls between ages 9 and 15 must be vaccinated against the virus. It also says women must screen at ages 35 and 45, the target is to eradicate the ailment by 2030.
It is projected that by the year 2025, cervical cancer death rate in Nigeria will rise by 63 percent.
Medical experts say this is no doubt a wake-up call for women to embrace fully early screening to ensure they do not become part of the death record
