8000 women die of cervical cancer annually in Nigeria - ROFWOL

By Madu Obi

No fewer than 8000 women die of cervical cancer annually in Nigeria, a non governmental organization, Rock Foundation for Widows, Orphans and Less Privileged (‘ROFWOL), has said.

The foundation was founded in 2011 by a renowned philanthropist, Mrs Favour Chika-Okafor to help the less privileged children with educational scholarship, and lift burden off those struggling in life, especially jobless widows and their young children to overcome the effects of cervical cancer.

This year's event titled, "Creating Awareness on Cervical Cancer, Human Papilloma Virus and Pap Smear Screening" was launched to combat the menace of the second most prevalent cancer that affects women in Nigeria.

Speaking during the launch, Chika-Okafor said that cervical cancer, which is both preventable and treatable, affects only the women and sexually exposed girls.

According to her, the causative virus, HPV, is transmitted sexually by the men, adding, however, that it is preventable when men and women become more responsible in their sexual lives.

She said that the virus is treatable if diagnosed on time. “Every woman needs to screen for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) annually because negligence is dangerous."

"Early detection increases chances of survival. Cervical cancer could be prevented if we spread the news to our fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and all our friends out there. This should be our duty and responsibility towards them".

Favour urged people to avoid multiple and indiscriminate sex partners, even as she advised parents to catch their girls young by telling them the dangers of premarital sex which could expose them to cervical cancer.

She observed that sponsoring the economically disadvantaged women, including widows and girls, to get screened and vaccinated of HPV would help drive cervical cancer out of the world.

She also called on kind hearted people in the country to join hands with ROFWOL to spread the news that would encourage cancer screening among women and girls.

The weeklong event include cervical cancer/HPV advocacy with roadshow awareness on major streets in Lagos..