In the same vain, Medical Experts have called for sustainable public sensitization of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination to stem the tide of false information and misconception in tackling cervical cancer in Nigeria.
The experts made the call at the weekend during a virtual discourse themed “Cervical Cancer and HPV vaccination: Matters Arising”,organised by the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists in Nigeria with support from Marie Stopes International of Nigeria, MSION.
A renowned Virologist and former Vice Chancellor, of Redeemer’s University, Professor Oyewale Tomori, said Nigeria had not done enough to stem the tide of false information and misconception about the Human Papilloma Virus HPV vaccine.
Tomori, a former World Health Organisation, WHO, Consultant, in his presentation titled, “Vaccine Apathy: What Else to do Differently.” said that Nigeria had not done all that it ought to do when it needed to.
“On this issue of HPV vaccination, have we done enough? I say no I do not think so given all the misinformation that is going on now. We have not done enough. We have left gaps in information, rumours, and false information have filled those gaps.
He said the introduction of the HPV vaccination information should have started way back, as far as six or seven months ago as he described government activity now as medicine after death.
“We should learn from the past and continuously update our information. We need to be moving forward with the world by relating and translating data,” he affirmed.
According to Tomori, it is the action of the people that determines whether to control the epidemic or not and not only the government giving guidelines.
“We should start our awareness early, leave no gaps. We must aggressively counter fake news and rumours and consciously be ahead of the rumour mongers. It is an internal fight and we must continue to fight it. The information must be correct and complete.”
An Obstetrician and Gynecologist Consultant at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof Rose Anorlu, in her presentation “Cervical Cancer: The Right Communication for Prevention”, emphasised that cervical cancer screening has been shown to reduce the rate of the disease.
Anorlu, who heads the Oncology & Pathological Studies, at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, disclosed cervical cancer as the fourth most prevalent cancer globally, even as she stressed that the HPV vaccine was the primary prevention for the disease.
“Mathematical model shows that the vaccine can last up to 20 years without a booster dose. A single dose is equally as effective as two or three doses, but it is not yet known if the vaccine can give lifetime protection.
“Awareness of a disease is key in the prevention. It is right to say cervical cancer screening than screening for cervical cancer. They do not mean the same thing. Cervical cancer screening is to detect the pre-cancer of the cervix.
“Screening is not for detection of invasive cervical cancer, it is for the detection of the pre-cancer of the cervix. The pre-cancer is easy to treat and treatment gives above 90 percent cure rate and prevents development of invasive cervical cancer.”
