HPV Consortium, a team of medical researchers from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, has upped the ante in the fight against cancer and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in Nigeria.
The medical researchers, on Wednesday, launched a mobile cancer screening van which will serve as a free one-stop shop to strengthening cancer prevention, screening and treatment.
The step taken by the team has been described as a commendable one in the fight against cancer and efforts towards tackling HPV in the country.
The mobile clinic and a molecular laboratory, facilitated by HPV Consortium, was launched in collaboration with the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board at a ground-breaking ceremony, held at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
The launch of the well-equipped mobile clinic van selected Ibadan North, Ibadan North-West, Kajola, and Iseyin local government areas of the state as the pilot stage.
In an address, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Izaq Salako, commended the initiative by the medical researchers.
He said Nigeria has one of the highest HPV infections in the world especially among sexually active population, saying it also harbours high burden of HPV-associated cancers in the general and key affected population.
Dr. Salako also hinted that Nigeria alone accounted for nearly half of all reported cervical cancers, 62.6 percent of anal cancer, and 56 per cent of all oral and oropharyngeal cancers (OOPC) among the 16 West African countries.
He said: “We have established a National Taskforce on cervical cancer elimination in Nigeria, chaired by a former Minister of Health and a member of HPV Consortium, Professor Isaac Adewole, FAS.”
The minister stated that, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, six cancer centres of excellence are being established -one per geopolitical zone- to provide comprehensive cancer prevention services, diagnosis and treatment.
According to him, three of the centres are ready for commissioning, assuring that the remaining three will be commissioned on or before February, 2026.
Also speaking, Minister for Education, Dr Maruf Tunji-Alausa, emphasised the need for tertiary institutions to replicate and revolutionalise such model, not only for cervical cancer, but also for other essential diagnostic and primary health care services nationwide.
The Minister of Education was represented at the event by the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale.
In his address, Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, commended the HPV Consortium for facilitating such project to the state, describing it as an opportunity to provide more access to health care for residents.
Makinde, represented by his deputy, Chief Adebayo Lawal, however solicited from the medical researchers the expansion of the selected local government areas, for adequate coverage.
Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, declared the resolve of the state legislature to explore possiblity of moving a motion mandating routine HPV vaccination for eligible age groups in public schools.
He also said the state House of Assembly would advocate special budget lines dedicated to supporting community outreach programmes such as the mobile truck.
In their goodwill messages, Director General, National Institute of Cancer Research, Dr Usman Aliyu; Chairman, Advisory and Implementation Committee of the project, Professor Adebisi Adesola and CMD UCH Ibadan, Professor Jessy Otegbayo, described the initiative as a major feat to address growing cases of cancer in Nigeria.
Panel of Discussants, former Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole and Professor Lilang Liuz, stressed the need to screen and prevent HPV to curtail cervical cance.
Lead Project Director, HPV Consortium and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor Imran Morhason-Bello hinted that, the mobile truck clinic is an automobile, fully equipped for HPV examination, testing and treatment.
Professor Morhason-Bello said there are facilities for self sampling in the van to reduce manpower of medical practitioners.
The programme had in attendance health practitioners, public office holders, medical and secondary school students and traditional leaders.
The initiative is a multidisciplinary and crosscutting membership of the consortium involving experts in clinical medicine and dentistry, public health, sociology and humanities as well as representatives of federal and state government agencies and parastatals.
