World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified cancer of the cervix as one the second most common cancer among women globally, with a spill over effect touching Nigeria.
WHO says about 85 percent of the estimated 493,000 new cases and over 273,000 deaths from cervical cancer occur in developing countries including Nigeria and that if not detected early, cervical cancer can be fatal.
To tame the spread and effect of this cancer among Nigerian women, a non-governmental organisation, Mass Medical Mission, is organising a nationwide training for various categories of people, on cheap but simple methods of testing for cancer of the cervix.
Coordinator of the Mission, Dr. Kin J-Egwuonwu, said group hopes to train as many market women, health workers, housewives and other group of people on how to use the simple acetic acid test.
"This method tells you immediately, through the change of colour, whether you have signs of developing cervical cancer or not and this simple test has the ability to prevent the risk of dying from the cancer," J-Egwuonu said.
He noted that most cases of cancer of the cervix occurring in Africa are detected very late mainly due to poor access to screening facilities and lack of awareness. The current project, which he said the wife of the Kwara State governor has expressed interest in, could reach all 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria within three months.
"The aim is to have, at least, one cervical cancer screening centre in every local government," he said.
J-Egwuonwu said churches, mosques, palaces and markets are some of the locations where cervical screening messages and services would be delivered.
Meanwhile, January Mass Medical Mission has designated February 14 for heightened awareness on cervical cancer. Between this periods, the organisation hopes to reach out to various groups of professionals and the public, on how to prevent cervical cancer through early and simple means of detection.
"Unlike other cancerous ailments, cervical cancer is 100 percent preventable, and there is even a vaccine for it now," he said.
WHO, had in 2007 supported Nigeria in a national scale-up of capacity in VIA and Cryotherapy techniques, to detect cervical cancer early.
The trainings were as a result of a request made to WHO, following a sensitisation meeting of tertiary health institutions’ top management of the Federal Ministry of Health, early in the year.