Make the change we desire : NICRAT DG tell participants at cancer training

A three – day training on cervical cancer and referral for primary and secondary health workers in South – West Zone is in progress in Lagos, with a call on participants to get the best from the workshop so they can cascade the knowledge to others when they go back to their facilities.

The Director General, NICRAT, Professor Usman Aliyu made the call at during a capacity building taking place simultaneously in the six geo – political Zones, to train Oncologists and key stakeholder on cancer prevention, control, efficient care and treatment.

” Hence the reason for the three – day training which is being done simultaneously in the six – Geopolitical Zones of the country so that, they can unlearn and tell their family about the need to regularly check themselves especially women “. he noted

According to him, ” the meeting will also discuss cancer in all ramifications, identify challenges, vis – a – vis vaccine acceptability, attitude of patients, government efforts and the way forward “.

In terms of treatment, Dr Aliyu said, presently, there are free treatment for cervical cancer in all the six- Geo political Zones of the country, and in at least Six facilities, adding that, there are plans to increase the number.

Professor Aliyu noted that, the training will build the capacity of the health care providers on the techniques of early detection and referral of cervical cancer cases in their facilities, to reduce the growing burden of the disease at all levels of care.

One of the Facilitators, a Consultant Gynecologist, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Dr Olutosin Awolude, noted that,
cervical cancer is the second commonest cancer in women and kills faster than breast cancer.

” we can stop those things that will lead to cancer, the Human Papilloma virus is what causes cancer and as human beings, at one time or the other in life, we have come across this virus but most bodies takes care of it although not everyone is lucky but you cannot know unless they screen”.

According to him, the burden is so large in Nigeria, nothing that, cervical cancer will be a thing of the past because, it is one hundred percent preventable, If the right actions are taken.

He stated that, the Federal government has put in place a Cancer Health Fund, CHF, ” With that fund, a patient can receive treatment to the tune of one million naira (1 million naira )
for a start and can be increased whenever the need arises”.

Also known as, Cancer of the mouth or the neck of the womb, Professor Awolude expressed dismay that, people present cases at stages three and four when nothing can be done.

He urged members of the public to avail themselves of the opportunity as the era of people dying cheaply has gone. ” Avail yourselves information from the right sources, go for checkups regularly as early detection save lives “.

” Once there are enough awareness at the grassroots, training, knowing the causes of cervical cancer and avoiding it what can lead to reduction in cervical cancer cases in the next fifteen years, adding that, other form of prevention is, vaccination especially to girls between the ages of 9 to 14 years.

Dr Ajibike Oresanya, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Federal Medical Center, FMC, Ebute Metta, Lagos, assured members of the public that, FMC screens and give vaccination, offer chemotherapy as well as surgical treatment now for those with early cervical cancer.

She pointed out that, FMC is building chemotherapy center such that will have a comprehensive cancer center where all cancer patients including cervical cancer can have their treatment in one place.

” Causes of cervical cancer is infection with the Human Papilloma Virus, the major strain is associated with cervical cancer is HPV 16 and 18, things that may increase the risk of a women being infected with HPV are, indulgence in early sex, having multiple sexual partners, multiple pregnancies, HIV because it increases the chances. nothing that, ” the time of progression to cervical cancer is between fifteen to twenty years, but with patients with HIV the time is short such that they may develop cervical cancer in five to ten years, poverty also increases the chances as they do some risky things to survive ” he stated.

Dr Oresanya enumerated the Symptoms of cervical cancer to include, heavy bleeding, bleeding after sexual intercourse with their husband, foul smelling virginal discharge.

Others are, ” lower abdominal pain, back pain as some may spread to other parts of the body, abdominal swelling, yellowness of the eyes, difficulty in breathing and inability to control their urine and faces at advanced stage’ she stressed

Dr Bolanle Adegboyega, a Clinician Oncologist, at NSIA LUTH, Cancer Center explained that, training was necessary because cervical cancer burden is on the increase.

” We issues with treatment, facilities and no funds, it’s actually a problem, so the essence of the train people to be able to screen in their locality so that ” Government has rolled out vaccine for the benefit of girls from age 9 to 14 years.

She said and I quote – ” We are training them to go and be a change agent in their locality to also be able to empower people that they are working with and from there, focus on the primary and secondary health care because they work at the grassroots “, so they can avoid using drugs for Malaria to treat HIV.

and to be able to know the early signs and recognize it, to be able to treat and where they cannot they should be able to navigate and refer whenever the need arises.

Dr Bolanle pointed out that, Although, ” we are waking up late it is better late than never, ” I believe the programme will cover much more so that the people in the interior can know the basic signs ,to enable them detect early and take necessary action.

The theme of the training is ” Close the Care Gaps, Cervical Cancer Screening and referral”.