Patience Jonathan calls for urgent universal access to cervical cancer treatment in Africa

Windhoek - The First Lady, Patience Jonathan, said there was
the need to urgently address universal access to cervical
cancer prevention and treatment in Africa.
Jonathan said this at the 8th conference on “Stop Cervical,
Breast and Prostate Cancer” in Africa in Windhoek, Namibia.
The first lady, who presented Nigeria’s position at the confab,
said the Federal Government had procured and distributed
Diagnostic and Treatment Equipment to 12 Federal Hospitals
as part of effort to end the scourge.
“For the first time in Africa, Nigeria has also introduced
residency training in Clinical Medical Physics in 2012 for
cancer care enhancement.”
“This arose from the technical cooperation with International
Atomic Energy Agency for the conduct of the activity.”
“Nigeria is also in technical partnership with the agency to
procure Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine equipment for
10 of our hospitals,” she said.
According to her, the objective is to ensure improved access
to early cancer diagnosis and treatment.
She said that presently, two hospitals, including the National
Hospital Abuja and University College Hospital, Ibadan, offered
Nuclear Medicine diagnosis and treatment of cancers.
The first lady said that efforts were ongoing so that by the year
2016, the number of hospitals that could provide Nuclear
Medicine Services would be increased to 10.
She said that subsequently, hospitals that offered radiation
therapy would be increased to 11.
Jonathan advocated for the inclusion of cancer screening into
regular family planning, and maternal health services.
She added that the screening must also be done at an early
age.
The first lady called for health education for adolescents and
young adults on factors associated with cervical cancer
She further called for improved access to Human Papilloma
Vaccines (HPV) by girls between the ages of 9 and 15 years.
“There should be increased awareness and improved access to
family planning and pre and post screening counseling, to
prepare the women for the outcome of cancer screening.”
She expressed concern that many women had died from the
disease due to late presentation of sufferers to hospitals for
diagnosis and treatment.
“Many of our women are not adequately informed about this
disease and others are too poor to access care on time.”
“This results in the tragedy of preventable deaths and
devastation to the family.”
She said that her office was collaborating with the Ministry of
Health to sustain a dedicated National Cancer Control
Programme.
According to her, “our advocacy campaigns through my NGO,
the A. Aruera Reachout Foundation, have enabled us to
achieve some significant milestones in the areas of increased
awareness.”
“As Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control and Prevention
in Nigeria, I have not relented in empowering and educating
our women on the need to have regular cancer screening.”
“We have also helped to promote the strategic and legal
framework for implementing the National Cervical Cancer
Control Policy.”
“It outlines the road map for Nigeria to control the challenge
of cancer in the next few years.”
According to the policy, girls between the ages of 9 and 15
years should be Immunised with HPV.
Dignitaries at the conference included eight African first ladies,
WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, and other
international donors and partners.
- NAN