An Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Evercare Hospital in Lagos, Dr. Olasupo Orimogunje, has advised women to embrace cervical cancer vaccine. He said vaccination could prevent cervical cancer at the preclinical stage, adding: “We can prevent preclinical stage through vaccine. Researchers took quite an inordinate amount of time on this life-changing research. This cancer is still a big killer in countries like Nigeria, second only to breast cancer.
 
According to him: “Approximately, 8000 women die yearly in Nigeria from cancer of the cervix. In the United Kingdom (UK), cervical cancer is the 14th most common cancer in women. With the introduction of vaccination and screening programmes, only 850 women die yearly. This is projected to reduce further in the next decade.
 
“It is saddening that cancer that is preventable is killing thousands of women every year in Nigeria. This unique cancer not only has a vaccine that can prevent it, but also has a treatable precursor stage, which can last several years, providing opportunity for treatment before cancer develops. As no government in Nigeria has made any serious effort in taking any step towards preventing this most preventable cancer in Nigeria, Nigerians need to take charge of their health and stop the disease in its tracks.”
 
He added: “It currently costs approximately 40 to 50,000 Naira spread over 6 months to get fully vaccinated. This is a small amount when we compare the cost of having to treat cancer or losing a woman in the prime of their life.

“By killing women in their prime, cervical cancer has far greater repercussions on society than other cancers that tend to affect people more in the older age group. Charity organisations all over are encouraged to sponsor programmes of vaccination and screening for all women to prevent cancer .
 
“Cervical cancer affects the entrance to the womb. The cervix is the narrow part of the lower uterus, often referred to as the neck of the womb. Early deployment of vaccines can help save lives of several women and reduce the chances of the virus taking more lives. ”