Former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, says Nigeria is on track toward eliminating cervical

cancer with various interventions employed by the Federal Government, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Commonwealth.

Adewole, who was the Minister of Health from 2015 to 2019, said this on Tuesday in a telephone interview with newsmen. He said the establishment of cancer treatment centres across the country, W.H.O’s approach to eliminating cancer globally and Commonwealth’s international task force on elimination of cervical cancer in commonwealth countries are responsible for the progress made.

He added that “what we know is that many more people are reporting in the hospitals simply because of heightened awareness and because we have established more treatment centres in the last couple of years.

Adewole also said that current statistics shows that Nigeria records about 15,000 cases of cervical cancer annually and lose about 10,500.

This, he said, translates to a case fatality of about 75 per cent or 0.7 per cent, indicating seven deaths out of every 10 cases.

He added that it was a worrisome figure as it happened to be the highest in the world as Latin America, South-East Asia and North America record a case fatality of under 0.4 per cent.

Explaining why more cases were presented in hospitals, he said it had to do with the heightened attention globally, “as everyone has now keyed into the international agenda to beam searchlight on the disease.

The former minister said that the most popular form of testing is the PAP Smear, but added that there are other more effective techniques such as visual inspection and the use of HP DNA testing.

Adewole disclosed that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is scheduled to start HPV vaccination in 2023, to become part of the nation’s routine immunisation.

He also said that the signing of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) bill earlier in the year into law is a welcome development as it will ease the burden of cancer treatment on patients.

According to him, one of the basic packages of care in the schedule of the NHIA is cancer screening.

On treatment for those who have already contracted the disease, Adewole said there are quite a number of outlets to assist those who have cervical cancer in Nigeria.

He added that some Non-Government Organisations are already at the forefront of rendering help and the Federal Government also established a cancer health fund, made available if patients visit any tertiary hospital.

He said that the programme is being piloted in six tertiary facilities and that patients with cancer have started accessing support and are given a minimum of N1 million to help them with treatment.

The Nigerian Medical Association NMA, has called on well-meaning Nigerians to show empathy to flood victims across the country.

The National President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Uche R. Ojinmah, made the call in his address to the 2022 Physician’s Week, held in Abuja.

He also called on Governments at different levels to work together in helping victims recover quickly and urged the Federal Government to actively initiate measures to avert another flooding.

He said that the NMA in sympathy for flood victims had to shelf the all glamorous activities for its 2022 Physician’s week.

“Let me start by informing you all that NMA had to shelve this year’s Physicians’ Week National opening ceremony and razzmatazz as a result of the massive flood affecting Bayelsa and some other states of Nigeria with attendant loss of human lives and properties thereby dampening the mood of the nation. We have from our meager resources sent some relief materials to Bayelsa state which was worse hit; we also encouraged our branches in affected states to roll out medical outreach programs and sent solidarity messages to the state Governors and some dignitaries in the affected states”. Dr. Ojinmah said.

He noted that Nigeria is at a turning point and that everyone is charged to stand as compatriots to obey the call of Nigeria.

“Our beloved country is passing through difficult times but I know that if we persevere and continue being the best that we can be, there is light at the end of the tunnel”, he said.

The NMA President also said that Nigerian doctors are poorly paid, overworked, lack necessary work tools, and have become a target for kidnap.

“We as Nigerian doctors have been taken from the lofty heights of nobility to nothingness by the neglect and possible disdain for the health sector by successive governments. The penchant of State governments for seizing or slashing our salaries and paying it piecemeal at their convenience without interest has become a subject of folklore and hence cannot be allowed to continue”, he said.

At an event by the NMA FCT, the Chairman of NMA FCT, Dr. Ugochukwu Uwuanyi, said that as the 2023 general election draws nearer, there was a need to ask presidential candidates the right questions concerning their plans for the health sector.

He said that the NMA FCT is holding medical outreach to attend to indigent citizens of the Federal Capital Territory.

Dr. Igwuanyi also lamented the effects of brain drain in Nigeria.

“Currently, Nigeria has the third highest number of foreign doctors working in the UK after India and Pakistan,” he said.

The theme of this year’s Physicians’ Week is Nigeria’s Healthcare Delivery System and the 2023 Democratic Transition: A Time to Change the Narrative.

The Anambra State Government has inaugurated the State Health Research Ethics Committee in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike said that the objectives of the committee are to achieve results and save the lives of the people through the research findings that will inform decisions.

“We formed this Health Research Ethics Committee to take charge of research in the state, Organisations, individuals and even the Ministry of Health will work together to find out the causes of some health issues in the state through their research work.

Dr. Obidike said that there is always a need to research the prevalence of diseases noting that the committee will do the research, interpret and help guide the individuals, and their thesis.

“Research expands knowledge, gives the latest information, and helps us to know what we are up against.

“Organisations like World Health Organisation, (WHO) and United Nations International Children Emergency Fund, (UNICEF), will also help channel them in the right direction and we are happy that we have the highest professionals in this ethics committee.

“This committee will be chaired by Prof. John Eleje and the Co-Chair is Dr. Chukwunonso Nnebo who is also an associate Professor.’’ Dr. Obidike said.

According to him, the committee also boosts a Consultant in Public Health, a Consultant Physician, Doctors in all fields, Pharmacists, Medical labs, and a Radiologist who is a consultant.

He explained that every aspect of health is well represented in the committee; So, where there are issues regarding a particular field there is always someone to solve the issue.

The commissioner noted that Gov. Charles Soludo-led’s administration is using a holistic approach to tackle, as well address health issues across the state.

“Our governor is a research-oriented person and he likes working with accurate data, so I urge you all to work for the interest of the public.’’

Chairman of the committee, Prof. John Eleje thanked the Anambra State Government for constituting the research committee and assured of their commitment to discharge their duties accordingly.

Sexual Offenses Awareness and Response initiative, a non-governmental organisation, says it is set to mobilise communities to end sexual violence against girls in Benue.

The Mrs Chinyere Eyoh, the Executive Director of the organisation, said this in a one day consultative forum with stakeholders in Benue on how to end sexual based violence against girls.

Mrs Chinyere said that from the statistic, “Benue seems to be the highest in sexual violence which is why the initiative is in the state to work with relevant stakeholders to curb the trend”.

She further said that in 2017, the organisation conceptualized its community-based strategy where it could go into communities and strengthen structures that would enlighten the people on what sexual violence is.

She also said that the main objectives of the initiative “is to advocate against abuse of children, to also work with stakeholders and provide care and support to survivors of Sexual abuse”.

Also speaking, Comfort Ayua, the Programme Assistant of the initiative, said that the project was to address sexual violence and also look into the root cause of the trend.

Comfort further said that the project would focus on Uipkam and Logo in Guma Local Government Area and Anyi Local Government Area, respectively.

Mr Amokaha Paul, a representative of State Child Right Implementation Committee, said that there should be constant review of the child right and implementation should be done so that the child should have the right to speak out.

Also, Mr Uzua Amos, the Chairman Child Protection Network, said that the forum was established to monitor and respond to child violence in the state.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mrs Beatrice Shomkegh from UNHCR said that sexual violence had become a major trend, especially in the IDP camps.

The meeting had in attendance major government and civil society organisation as relevant stakeholders.