ERADICATION OF CERVICAL CANCER

There has been increasing incidence of cervical cancer in Africa.  Various screening programmes aimed at detecting the cancer at an early stage when it is easily treatable have been mounted in the past. Though some successes were recorded the cost concerns have been a major issue. It is in view of this that a programme is being proposed to address the challenge and offer coverage on a large scale in a cost effective manner. This particular programme is aimed at reducing the incidence of cancer through vaccination particularly for pubertal girls and boys who have not become sexually active. The main organism targeted is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV has been implicated as the causative organism in about 80% of cervical cancer cases.