By Khalid Idris Doya
The Technical Officer with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Bauchi state, Mr Mustapha Umar has described cancer as a disease that occurs when changes happen in a group of normal cells within the body leading to uncontrolled abnormal growth and forming a lump called a tumour.
He explained that tumour if left unchecked can grow and spread in the surrounding normal tissue or to other parts of the body via the bloodstream and lymphatic system, and can affect the digestive, nervous and circulatory systems or release harmonies that may affect body function.
The officer in a paper on update on Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) during a media’ meeting organised by USAID-Integrated Health Programme (IHP) in collaboration with Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD) yesterday in Bauchi to enlighten the public on the importance of the vaccine, said that, “This is true of all cancers except the cancer of the blood, otherwise referred to as laemia”.
Mr. Mustapha Umar also disclosed cervical cancer which, he said, develops in a women's cervix, commonly among women globally where in 2018 alone caused an estimated death of 311, 000 worldwide.
He classified cancers into more groups such as Carcinoma, Lymphoma, Myeloma, Sarcoma and Leukemia, saying, "It is estimated that 10 million people die of cancer annually worldwide, and that 70 percent of these deaths occur in Low-so-middle income countries including Nigeria".
"It also warned that deaths from cervical cancer will increase a further 50 percent by 2040 and that many women, their families and communities will be impacted if desirable action is not taken".
He said, generally, it is estimated that 10 million people die of cancer annually worldwide, and that 70 per cent of these deaths occur in low-to- middle income countries including Nigeria.
“Expectedly, the majority of these cases were reported in low- and middle- income countries (LMIC), where approximately 84 per cent of global cases and nearly 90 per cent of deaths from the disease occur.
“It also warned that deaths from cervical cancer will increase a further 50 per cent by 2040, and that many women, their families and communities will be impacted if desirable action is not taken against cervical cancer: symptoms and signs.”
“The most common cancers in Nigeria are cancers of the breast and cervix in women and cancer of the prostate in men. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women in Nigeria and the fourth most common cancer among women globally.
“In 2020, globally, it was responsible for 604,000 new cases with 342, 000 deaths.”
He further said, Nigeria’s HPV vaccine Introduction for girls of the targeted age group will potentially avert 71,000 deaths annually if target coverages are reached.
According to Umar, with the support of Gavi, Nigeria plans to introduce the HPV vaccine nationwide using a phased approach to sustain the country's focus on reducing morbidity and mortality due to the high burden of cervical cancer and the weak secondary and tertiary platforms to manage and treat cases.
He said Nigeria's HPV vaccine introduction for girls of the targeted age group will potentially avert 71,000 deaths annually if target coverage is reached.
“Girls aged 9-14 years missed during the campaigns will be eligible to get the vaccines from the health facilities closest to them.”
“Only 9 years old girls will be targeted in the fixed health facilities in 2025.”
Earlier, while welcoming participants to the meeting, the Health Financing Adviser with the Integrated Health Program (IHP), Pharmacist Khalid Kasami has said that vulnerable groups constitute 73 percent of the 7. 5 million people in the state are living below the poverty line.
He revealed however that the vulnerable could not be able to pay to register for the Health Insurance Scheme as, according to him, somebody has to pay for them, while the state government has made some earmarks to cover them through the state established Equity Trust Fund.
The adviser at a one- day media quarterly meeting organized by IHP in Bauchi weekend, said in as addition 1%.contract and another 1% from the Local Government Councils in the state joined in the enrolment of vulnerables into the scheme.
“In our programme 2024, we want the state government to focus on the enrolment, if we really want to make a significant progress in our financial protection indicator”, Kasimu said.
He added, “We also want to go into the area of commodity availability or commodity financing. We want the state government to increase what we call six stocks for commodity expansion so that our health facilities would be fully equipped to meet the health needs of the people”.
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