Cervical cancer: FLAC decries poor access to HPV vaccines in primary healthcare centres

First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), a coalition of the spouses of current and former state governors working against cancer, has expressed concern with the unavailability of Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines for millions of Nigerian girls through primary healthcare facilities in the country.  The organisation raised the concern in a statement to commemorate the first year […]

First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), a coalition of the spouses of current and former state governors working against cancer, has expressed concern with the unavailability of Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines for millions of Nigerian girls through primary healthcare facilities in the country.

 The organisation raised the concern in a statement to commemorate the first year anniversary of the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.

 Cervical Cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria. It is preventable with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. There are 12,075 new cases of cervical cancer in Nigeria every year, with 7,968 deaths.

 HPV is a sexually transmitted infection, and persistent infection from it puts people at risk of cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus and throat in women, and cancers of the anus, mouth and penis in men, according to experts.

HPV has been implicated in almost 100% of cases of cervical cancer.

 “It remains painfully unacceptable that millions of Nigerian and African adolescent girls do not have access to HPV vaccination through our primary healthcare structures,” the first ladies said.

 They said that as the country emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the commitment of the federal government to cancer care assures that equitable access to quality services is achievable by 2030.

 However, they added that they had hoped at the time of the commemoration, HPV vaccines would be available on the nation’s routine immunisation schedule.

 The statement said we must place a demand on the pharmaceutical industry, World Health Organisation (WHO), policymakers in high income countries, and the African Union to prioritise our girls and address the drivers of this inequity.

 The organisation said it would be at the forefront of the call to action as it launches the “FLAC Vaccine Access Programme” today which is aimed at increasing awareness, driving demand, and most of all providing access to HPV vaccines in our states.

 “Our vaccine access programme will catalyse access to HPV vaccine for families that can afford out-of-pocket payment in the immediate term and at the same time, advocating for inclusion of HPV vaccine into routine immunisation to cater for those that can’t afford out-of-pocket payment. We will start this with a series of town hall meetings on cervical cancer prevention, screening and awareness through our community outreach programme.

“Our continued partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Clinton Health Access

Initiative (CHAI) is delivering routine cervical cancer screening and treatment of precancerous lesions through public health facilities to 10,000 women following a scale-up of the CHAI-led programme to include Kebbi and Niger states,” the statement added.