Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has said only 14 per cent of girls have been vaccinated and 10 per cent of women screened for cervical cancer in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Cervical Cancer Prevention Project for Girls and Women (4GW) programme held in Lagos, an Obstetrician /Gynaecologist and Director of Research, NIMR, Prof. Oliver Ezechi, said: “This can be attributed to immunisation gaps, low knowledge, cultural difficulties and lack of screening. These are some of the barriers to the effective containment of cervical cancer.”
He said the event tagged: ‘4GW’, was an interactive session where girls and women across Nigeria would work together to design and present their self-devised solution to social and health issues.
Ezechi urged the government to take health issues relating to women seriously.
A public health physician and researcher, Dr. Benedict Azuogu, said cervical cancer was very common among women of childbearing age.
Prof Juliet Iwelunmor from St Louis University said: “With the ideas that will come from fellow Nigerian women and girls, they want to end the scourge.”