A Professor of Gynaecological Oncology, Bala Audu, says tackling of cervical cancer requires collective approach, adding that capacity building of medical personnel would rid the region of the scourge.
Audu who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences Azare, noted that cervical cancer although a major burden throughout the world, has become global public health problem which particularly affects sub-saharan Africa.
Audu made this disclosure on Monday in Gombe during a training for trainers organised for 36 participants from the six states under the North-East collaboration for cervical cancer Elimination NE-C3E, the North-East Development Commission, University of Miami, Federal University of Health Sciences Azare.
He said, “And in particular Nigeria because of the magnitude of this problem the World Health Organisation has declared a strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.
Speaking on the impact of the collaboration, he noted that it would build the capacity of medical personnel in terms of knowledge skills adding “To deliver on all the triple approach by the WHO from Primary Health Care level which will help us mobilise the community to secondary and tertiary care level of managing the complicated cases and we believe that from the support from NEDC and each of every state that the North-East of Nigeria will be the first part of the country to eliminate cervical cancer. There are 36 participants, drawn from all the six states of the North-East and across the senatorial zones and they are expected to do a cascade down training to each Local Government Areas with three PHCs making 112.”
Also speaking, Managing Director Mohammed Alkali, said the initiative was hinged on improving the lives of residents in the region.
Represented by the General Manager Relief and Remediation under Humanitarian Directorate Sa’adatu Ahmed-Shehu, Alkali said “This is an informed decision following a course that was attended in Miami United States the office felt training on cervical cancer should be encouraged.”
“As a Commission we want to touch the lives of the people of the
North-East at the grassroot most especially and if we are able to achieve this it will be a great plus towards achieving our set mandate,” Alkali added.
Also, Gombe State Commissioner for Health Habu Dahiru, said “the incidence of cervical cancer is quite high in Gombe State. With this collaboration there will be improved access which will bring patients for screening, treatment and there will be demand creation through Primary Health Care Development Agency.”
On her part, Batul Mohammed, urged the states to take ownership, “with the presence of the Commissioner here it means the state is ready to take the bull by the horns. The Commission is here to support the main drivers to implement this from the communities, Primary Health Care Centres to the tertiary hospitals are the state personnel themselves. Cervical cancer will not only be prevented even those infected we hope to get them treated and back to productive life.”
