By Correspondent in Minna.
Niger state government has organized free cervical cancer screening and treatment for initial 5,000 women drawn from across the 25 Local Government Areas, of reproductive age for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Governor, Alhaji Abubarkar Sani Bello,made this known on Monday at the flag-off of the HPV Cervical Cancer prevention services at the Neo-Natal wing of the Minna, General Hospital, called on heads of families and religious leaders to encourage their women and daughters to get screened.
According to him, the exercise is part of efforts to ensure that Niger state achieves less than four new cases of cervical cancer per 100, 000 women in the state.
“As a state, we are set to provide organized cervical cancer screening of initial 5,000 women of reproductive age for the HPV across the state and as well treat those with cervical precancerous lesion.
“As a government,we will continue to strive to ensure that Niger state becomes one of the leading states in Nigeria to achieve less than 4 new cases of cervical cancer per 100, 000 women and ladies of reproductive age,”he said.
The Governor’s wife, Dr. Amina Sani Bello had earlier assured that the state, in collaboration with WHO/CHAI/RAiSE Foundation, would align with the World Health Organisation (WHO) global strategy of 90: 70: 90 of Cervical Cancer elimination to achieve the desired success in such programme.
Dr. Sani Bello, who said the second phase of the exercise would be determined by the level of corporation and speed achieved in the first phase of the exercise, urged the targeted audience to embrace the gesture in order to remain healthy.
Also speaking, a cancer Survivor and Executive Director, International Centre For Sexual Reproductive Rights, Mrs. Cesnabmihilo Dorothy Aken’Ova, described the programme as very timely, adding that it would go a long way in meeting the health needs of rural women of productive age.
She said, “For a very long time now, we have desired that Nigeria should meet up with the global health standards, such that women get support in terms of early detection of cancer and I am very happy today that it is now a reality”.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Makusidi Muhammad, had in an opening remarks at the occasion assured the people of the state that women would benefit in subsequent exercise.
He named the initial local government areas of the state to benefit from the programme as Chanchaga, Suleja, Kontagora, Lapai, Mokwa, Borgu, Paikoro, Gbako and Bosso”.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.