Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women in eastern, western, middle, and southern Africa. It is the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria, following breast cancer. Persistent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the most common sexually transmitted infection, affecting both men and women, is the main cause of cervical cancer in women.

The incidence and rate of mortality due to cervical cancer have been significantly decreased through vaccination, screening, and treatment of precancerous lesions in parts of the world where these services are available. Vaccination of both men and women prevents infection by HPV while the goal of screening in women is to detect abnormal cells on the cervix and remove them before they become cancerous.

Cervical cancer continues to be a major public health problem affecting women in less-resourced countries, due to the absence of widespread vaccination and screening services. A scale-up of HPV vaccination and HPV-based screening—including self-sampling—has potential to make cervical cancer a rare disease in the decades to come.

As the world celebrates Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 18th – 24th January 2021, the Nigerian Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (NSCCP) reiterates her commitment to improving the health of women in Nigeria through education, research, thought leadership and promotion of activities relating to the prevention and management of cervical cancer.

Dr. Yinka Olaniyan

President