NICRAT Begins Free Cervical Cancer Screening for 200 Women in Adamawa

 

By Atlantic Reports

Speaking at the inauguration of the exercise on Tuesday in Fufore, Dr Nandi Tokkit, a Consultant in the Department of Prevention and Control at NICRAT, Abuja, said cervical cancer was the second most common cancer among women.

Tokkit explained that cervical cancer could be prevented through vaccination and detected early through regular screening.

She said the initiative was designed to identify women with early signs of the disease and provide timely treatment to prevent its progression.

“One beautiful thing about cervical cancer is that it can be prevented through vaccination, and it can also be detected early through screening.

“So our aim is to detect these clients early, so that we will be able to prevent them from coming down with cervical cancer.

“Once we screen and they are positive or they have precancerous lesions. These are lesions that have not yet gotten to cancer, to the cancer stage, will be able to treat those precancerous lesions.

“So the woman is cured completely, and then she may likely not come down with cervical cancer,” she said.

Tokkit disclosed that the screening exercise was currently taking place in six states across the country, with Adamawa representing the North-East.

HPV Testing to Identify Women at Risk

Also speaking, Dr Maisaratu Bakari, an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, described the initiative as timely, noting that the hospital had recorded several cases of cervical cancer-related conditions.

She said NICRAT introduced the research initiative in Adamawa through a pilot programme, which began with community awareness and sensitisation.

According to her, the exercise had now progressed to the second phase, involving Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing, the primary screening method recommended under Nigeria's national guidelines.

Bakari explained that the test was designed to identify women carrying high-risk HPV types, a virus that can lead to cervical cancer.

She said the programme was targeting 200 women in the area.

The associate professor disclosed that NICRAT had provided a thermal ablator for the treatment of suspicious cervical areas through a procedure that uses heat to destroy affected tissue.

She added that women who did not meet the criteria for ablation would be referred to MAUTH in Yola for further medical evaluation and treatment.

Beneficiaries Appreciate Free Screening

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Rahab Caleb appreciated NICRAT for providing the free screening service.

She urged other women to take advantage of the initiative by participating in cervical cancer screening to promote early detection and timely treatment.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.