Free Cervical Vaccination For Edo State Girls By September!

In order to reduce the scourge of cervical cancer among female residents of the state, the Edo State Government has concluded arrangements to commence the administration of Gardasil Cervical Cancer vaccine for female school children throughout the 18 local government areas of the state beginning from September this year.

The state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, made this announcement at the first Clara Oshiomhole Memorial Lecture organised by the correspondents chapel of the Edo State council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in conjunction with the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). He explained that the vaccines would help prevent cervical cancer among the state's young population throughout their lifetime.

Mr Oshiomhole, who spoke through his deputy, Pius Odubu, described the lecture as another opportunity to reflect on his late wife's battle against cancer and to also revisit her vision for a sound public health programme to fight cancer.

"This lecture series is consistent with her vision and resolve, namely that we must collectively deploy the power of information and enlightenment in the battle against cancer. Therefore, the initiative of the correspondents chapel has great appeal to me," the governor said.

He observed that cancer remains a global burden that accounts for over 7.6 million deaths yearly, more than the fatalities recorded from HIV/AIDS, adding that nine million people are projected to die from cancer by the year 2015.

He said because of the debilitating impact of cancer, such as higher pressure on health costs, emotional trauma for victims and families and the loss of valuable human assets, the state had no option but to develop a sound public health response to it.

Accordingly, he announced the establishment by the state of cervical screening centres where breast examination would also be administered, adding that over 5000 women have been screened for cervical cancer through simple cervical cancer screening machines available in 34 public hospital and some of the primary health care centres across the State.

According to the governor, the flagship programme of the state would be the cancer screening and management centres to be domiciled in the new central hospital currently under construction.

"We are determined to complete on schedule the new central hospital and equip it with modern facilities for cancer diagnosis and management," he said.