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• 12,000 cases, 8,000 deaths recorded in 4 years; men prone to disease
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Apart from malaria, cholera and other epidemics ravaging Nigerians, another disease that has claimed thousands of lives is cancer. The most common types are breast cancer, prostate cancer, gynaecological cancer and cervical cancer.
So far, 12,000 cases have been recorded, with about 8,000 deaths, in the last four years.
This was disclosed by the senior registrar, Department of Anatomy Pathology, National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Kwapmi Nicholas, at a cancer awareness and screening exercise, recently, at the instance of the Federal Government College, Kaduna, Old Students’ Association (FGCKADOSA), Abuja chapter, in partnership with Cancer Consciousness Initiative and the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja.
The event assembled medical experts and volunteers who adumbrated on how to curb the health challenges.
According to Nicholas, the insouciant disposition of most Nigerians was responsible for the increasing cases despite the disease being preventable.
He said: “Cervical cancer is a preventable disease. No woman should die from it because there are things in place to prevent the cancer from occuring. Worldwide, it is the second leading disease, after breast cancer, in women.
“It is responsible for 500,000 deaths worldwide. In Nigeria, as at 2020, we had 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer. There were 8,000 deaths in Nigeria.
“People that are commonly affected are those within the reproductive age. And the risk factors include multiple sexual partners, smoking and early age of sex. According to a study, it was discovered that those who had the virus were women under age 25. So, you can imagine.
“The good thing is that the body is able to take care of this cancer of about 50% within eight months. Then 90 per cent within 12 months; with the prevention in place, many people can be protected.”
Meanwhile, a post-part 2 candidate in Radiation and Clinical Oncology, National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Ayuba Hannatu Usman, said the government was in charge of the situation
Usman said: “The government has taken very major strides in recent years. We now have a national institute for cancer research and training, superintendent by the CEO, Professor Usman Malami Aliyu.”
She added that the institute was very strategic in cancer advocacy, prevention, registration, treatment and management.
“He has ensured that cancer registration is done in all the facilities, not just in the big hospitals but private clinics too. This has been a game changer,” she said.
She, however, noted that “we have a huge health burden already, and that is why it may not seem like so much is done. But a lot is being done even in training of healthcare workers and strategizing.”
The medical expert further explained that cancer is now a notifiable disease. It was never like that in the past. Now this has given chance for data capturing.
She emphasized that “data is power. When you have that data you will be able to plan well for the treatment, management and clinical trials for patients.
“Even in cervical cancer space, a lot is being done like the HBP vaccination has been rolled out and presently our girls are getting the HBP vaccination. It is a very big step in cancer prevention.
“And with this awareness, we now make sure we increase community awareness as cancer is not a taboo. Let us stop making it look like a taboo; let us discuss it so that we can advise preventive steps as much as possible be as emotional support for whoever has cancer in your community.
“They should not stay long in the denial stage. They should accept and move forward. Cancer is not a death sentence. Cancer can be managed for long and people can leave a normal life.
“Because of the research being carried, they are now targeting treatment. Some of these medications are in the form of tablets, and these patients get better. The family dynamics is not disrupted.
“The fear our patients have is no more there. We should always create that awareness in our society. We hope that the alumni members will take proactive initiative to help members.
“Cervical cancer is a huge burden. The number of people that have died is in thousands. It is not just all about statistics.
“Even if it is just one woman, it is huge burden. Females 9-15 years should go for vaccination. If you can afford it, pay for your sons. Let them have the vaccination. It is very important.”
To complement the efforts made in curbing the disease, by the government FGCKADOSA chapter chairman, Bola Aduroshakin, stressed that the association would double up on constant cancer awareness, “which is as important as life.”
Aduroshakin said: “When you are not healthy, you are good as dead. It is very important that we have that health consciousness even in this season of cancer awareness to educate our friends, families and ourselves on the need for us to be conscious about our health condition as it relates to cancer prevention.
“We do not have to leave all these to government to do for us. We first have to take care of ourselves and help the government to take care of our needs.
“Help our relatives, association members, friends and loved ones to do their best and see to the need and have high level on ways of preventing cancer. Government will not leave the work of governance to do that for us.
“By educating and creating this kind of awareness, we are helping our society through our alumni to see that we are all ready to fight cancer.”
He disclosed that “from what I just heard, out of 500,000 women in the past 310 died of cervical cancer. That is enormous. If not for this kind of awareness I wouldn’t know or have this kind of information.
“It is today I am hearing that one per cent of men also have breasts cancer. I told myself that I will start touching myself now. It is not funny.
“I never knew that men could have breasts cancer. We thought it was a thing for women. But now we have to be conscious about it. So, we have to sensitise our friends and loved ones through our associations, churches and all that not just government doing it for us.
“Through the assistance of our global chapter, I believe that they will give me the support to spread it to all our chapters. We are in all the 36 states of the country. We are in North America, United Kingdom and Canada.”
He said the association would embark on aggressive campaign against cervical cancer, stressing that what took place recently “was just a litmus test of this awareness.
“I believe that it will spread across board. By getting some members of our alumni, we are getting families to know that this cancer is something we need to fight back.”
Speaking on the awareness the group had embarked upon over years, he said: “Before this time, we came with a health insurance initiative of alumni of Government College Kaduna.
“We have hundreds of our members enjoying free medical cover that is being run by reliance healthcare, fully paid by the association. Although within the alumni, we raised funds through our partners who are willing to pay their dues and donation for programme like this. We do not have to wait for government.
“With the kind of health insurance we have in our alumni, members can access healthcare anywhere in the country. And it is as little as N25,000.
“You have a health cover for a whole year, and it spreads across your family members, friends and loved ones as long as you are connected to the alumni.
“We have not spent up to N10 million. We are getting to 150 members that are covered through health. I can tell you that we have not spent up to N10 million.”
