Dr Michael Oguntoye, the Chairman of APHPN, Kwara Chapter, disclosed this on Tuesday during the association’s commemoration of the 2020 World Cancer Day Cocktail Lecture.
The Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN) says the country is geared for free cervical cancer vaccine by 2021 across the country.
Oguntoye revealed that in line with the call for action on cancer, partners such as World Health Organisation (WHO) were actively engaged in supporting Nigeria to tackle cervical cancer, the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the country.
He explained that cervical cancer can be prevented through vaccination, screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions and treatment of invasive cancer with palliative care.
The chairman of the APHPN noted that at present, HPV Vaccines were only available in private health facilities in Nigeria.
He said: “Efforts are however being made to include the HPV vaccine as part of national routine immunisation.
“HPV vaccination is recommended for girls between nine to 14 years of age and should be administered prior to becoming sexually active.”
Dr Raji Razaq, the state Commissioner for Health, said the state had approved that all women across the 16 local government areas of the state be screened for cervical cancer and breast cancer.
He assured that relevant treatment would also be provided.
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