Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has challenged global leaders in health to invest in cervical cancer control.
Speaking recently during the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting, on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, Adewole called on the ministers to designate Cervical Cancer as a major public health challenge and to intensify efforts to attract investment in vaccines access and treatment.
He described Cervical Cancer as a disease of inequity citing an International Agency for Research on Cancer Report that revealed that almost nine out of 10 (87%) cervical cancer deaths occur in the less developed regions, adding that, “If we do nothing, your excellences the burden of cervical cancer will increase by 2035, an increase of 72%, far higher than the global increase of 43%. We will also record near 50% increase in mortality.”
The Minister further pointed out that the report showed that the poorest countries will suffer more from cervical cancer. “This is a systems failure and it occurs because the systems have failed, the people have failed and we have failed everybody.”
At another event themed ‘Cervical Cancer: A Non Communicable Disease’ we can overcome, Prof. Adewole explained that, “The poor people are affected, and for me, at governmental level, we need to improve socioeconomic status in the country; we need to improve wellbeing and build a strong system” The first thing I did last year was to say we will offer free screenings to about 200,000 women across the country and this year my main mission is to screen women free of charge in Nigeria for cervical cancer.
“And for the first time, I have been able to put Cancer Prevention in my health budget, which is also significant. It is not the quantum of money that is there but the fact that I have been able to include and I know that within the next 1 or 2 years I will be able to grow that money.“
The Minister also disclosed that the government is currently equipping 7 centers for cancer prevention and management, where surgical oncology, radiotherapy and medical oncology would be handled.