Plenty Sexual Partners Dey Increase Cervical Cancer Risk – Foundation

Di Access to Basic Medical Care Foundation don warn say to dey get sexual activity with multiple partners fit sharply increase di risk of cervical cancer, as di Human Papillomavirus (HPV) wey dey cause more than 95 per cent of cervical cancer cases dey mainly spread through sexual contact. Di warning land during one sensitisation programme for secondary school students for Ibadan on Monday to mark World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day 2024. For di event, one Medical Officer with di Foundation, Dr Anjola Oluwadamilola, tok say at least 80 per cent of women dey exposed to HPV for dia lifetime, so young girls suppose collect di HPV vaccine before dem start sexual activity to reduce future infection risk. She add say HPV dey spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal intercourse or any other contact wey involve di genital area, and since HPV dey transmitted sexually, to get multiple sexual partners dey increase cervical cancer risk, especially through serotype 16 and 18. Anjola still point out say early marriage, early sexual debut, early pregnancy, short pregnancy interval, smoking, poor screening and immunosuppression dey worsen susceptibility, as she urge girls aged 9 to 14 to take di HPV vaccine, while older adolescents and young women fit still get di catch-up dose from age 15 to 26, plus regular screening like Pap test from 21 and HPV test from 25 every five years.

Also for di programme wey carry di theme “Act Now; Eliminate Cervical Cancer,” dem give talks to students of TAAS Group of Schools and Comfort De Johnson Royal College, Ibadan. Di Chief of Operations of di Foundation, Dr Olamiji Ajanaku, raise concern say even though cervical cancer na one of di most preventable cancers, e still dey kill plenty women for low- and middle-income countries. Ajanaku yarn say for 2022, over 660,000 women worldwide get cervical cancer, and 350,000 die, with Africa bearing di highest burden as almost 94 per cent of di deaths dey happen for countries like Nigeria. She stress say almost 99 per cent of cases link to HPV, so vaccination and screening remain critical, as di HPV vaccine safe, effective and fit give lifelong protection before exposure. She call on parents, teachers, faith leaders and community champions to make sure every girl aged 9 to 14 receive di vaccine and every woman aged 30 to 49 do screening, make dem no leave any woman wey need treatment behind. Others wey speak include di Head of Administration, Mrs Busayo Adeyoyin; Human Resources Manager, Mr Oladimeji Akanni; and Head of Programmes, Mr Kadan David.