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- more men coming down with HPV
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Obstetric and gynaecology experts have raised the alarm that more men are coming down with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) contrary to the wider belief that HPV was synonymous with cervical cancer.
The alarm was raised in Abuja, by participants at an event to mark the 2026 International HPV Awareness Day (IHAD) on the theme “transdisciplinary papillomavirus research in Nigeria: setting up an agenda”.
Led by Prof. Imran Oludare Morhason-Bello, the obstetric and gynaecologists confirmed that HPV is not a disease exclusive for women and girls, but a disease that affects male and female, and even people of other sexual orientations.
In a keynote presentation, the Prof. Oludare, said, “the narration that HPV is synonymous with cervical cancer is totally wrong. I want Nigerians to know that HPV could cause cancer of the mouth, cancer of the throat, cancer of the anus, penile cancer too.
“In fact, recent research shows that it could also be associated with heart disease. I made a presentation last year where studies were done and evaluated people that have had heart attack in the US, and they look at all the variables in them. The only thing they could commonly trace it to in over 250,000 people was because they have been previously exposed to HPV. So, HPV is a virus that is evolving.”
He suggested that government increase the funding for research so that more findings could be made for a better management of HPV. “The awareness is that we should let people know that HPV is largely acquired through unprotected sex. This sex does not mean penile-vaginal sex alone. There are other forms of sex. I talked about oral sex. A lot of Nigerians are engaging in anal sex lately.
“A lot are also engaging in masturbation, which are non-penetrating form of sex that could potentially flare up the infection, and we need to understand these practises within the community. Often times, the government create programme from an executive perspective, thinking for the community, but don’t engage the community to know what is their own challenges or understanding? The fact that somebody doesn’t have a western education does not mean that person does not have intelligence or initiative.
“Government should help Nigerians to untangle many of these challenges, particularly the challenge of HPV vaccine hesitancy. The reason for hesitancy in Lagos might be different from Nasarawa, Zamfara, or Rivers. But when we engage people, they will be able to tell us what was their concern, why they do not want to take this vaccine. That is important.”
The Nigeria Country Ambassador, International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS), Dr. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu, in her submissions, highlighted the importance of grassroots sensitization, and deep engagement of traditional, religious and community leaders in educating the people about HPV and what it could do.
She said: “HPV campaign must be an all-encompassing. It’s not what only governments will do. We have to bring in the communities, the religious leaders, the disabled people on board. Apart from coming together to discuss, we must go into the communities, talk to them, involve them in the activities we are doing.
“In this year’s event, we invited Christian and Muslim women. We invited people from the communities and survivors. That’s one special area we don’t explore maximally. We need to move along with the survivors so that they could speak to the communities with experiences. Remember when HPV vaccine came on board, some said it’s a scam. Some said it can cause infertility. But when we move with the survivors, with the community, religious leaders, and talked to them, they were be able to follow.
“Some communities need their leaders to talk to them. And also, when you bring the knowledge that cervical cancer is taking our women on a daily basis, deaths associated with cervical cancer, and take it down to the communities, you will see that we have gone a long way in addressing the issue of persistence, resistance, and other things associated with cervical cancer.
“Also, I have to mention that apart from carrying the advocacy, we also have to do something as a nation. If you go to major hospitals for cervical cancer screening, you will pay. I think it’s time that we make it free for every hospital to screen any woman. As you’re screening to the woman, screen her free. I think Nigeria can afford that.
“We believe that even with all the advocacy we are doing, we are still losing it. So, I think we have to, in summary, bring everybody on board. The religious leaders, the communities. I noticed that some of my patients that, after talking to them, they would go and talk to their pastors, and they listen to their pastors and Imams. We need to bring the pastors on board. If not, we can be talking, and the pastors, their Imams, and others, are not giving them what they’re supposed to. So it should be all encompassing.
Contributing, the President of IPVS Nigeria, Prof. Mohammed Manga, in his remarks, said that Nigeria has recorded significant and promising milestones in its efforts to eliminate cervical cancer and combat other related diseases.
She noted that through strengthening and supporting government organisations (e.g NICRAT, NPHCDA, NACA), the formation/establishment of relevant
bodies like the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination, and through the
activities of many NGOs/CSOs, the coast is fairly clear to understand the recorded
successes while planning to confront the obvious gaps and challenges from all
perspectives, and by all those concerned.
He said that despite the successes recorded, uptake of HPV is still not as optimum. Cervical screenings/diagnostics are weak and largely
opportunistic while the treatments/palliative supports still needs to be improved. “However, the future is very promising if we all come together to jointly confront the challenges while building on the achieved successes.”
He congratulated the IPVS and the entire HPV world on the occasion of the IHAD across the globe. “This follows numerous significant expansions/improvement in the IPVS with membership spreading across more countries
and increasing in number aside the addition of more country ambassadors and formal recognition of country chapters including ours.
“Educational activities have become more frequent and better packaged through sessions and many impactful webinars. I implore all of us who are not yet members of lPVs to take advantage of the relatively negligible amount paid as dues to join the global family of experts and enthusiasts in the fight against HPV and other related diseases.”
