Oyo Assembly lawmaker, Hon. Babalola Abiodun has urged the executive arm to enhance cervical cancer screening and prevention measures to reduce morbidity and mortality among women in the state.
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women globally, despite being largely preventable through early detection and treatment.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99.8% of cervical cancer cases can be prevented with regular screening and vaccination.
He noted that Nigeria accounts for a significant portion of global cervical cancer cases, with thousands of women losing their lives annually due to late diagnosis, limited access to screening, and inadequate awareness.
While Oyo State has made commendable strides in healthcare, the lawmaker stated that there is a pressing need to integrate cervical cancer prevention into the state’s health agenda.
“Research shows that awareness of cervical cancer and screening uptake among women in Oyo State remain critically low. A recent study by Owolabi and Jegede (2023) revealed that only 38% of women are aware of cervical cancer, and just 49.3% recognize its symptoms,” he said.
“The lack of a well-coordinated and properly funded cervical cancer screening program has left many women vulnerable to a disease that could be detected and treated early. Additionally, financial constraints continue to make screening inaccessible to low-income women, increasing their risk of late-stage diagnosis and death.”
“The impact of cervical cancer extends beyond health, as many families face financial hardship when women, often the primary caregivers, succumb to preventable diseases.”
“The cost of late-stage cancer treatment far exceeds the cost of preventive screening, highlighting the urgent need for the state to act decisively in scaling up screening services,” Babalola stressed.
In response, the House has resolved to urge the Executive Arm of Government, through the Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Board, and Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), to develop a comprehensive cervical cancer screening programme that ensures access to free or subsidized screening for women across all local government areas in the state.
They also called for establishment of more screening centers in rural and remote areas to eliminate geographic barriers to early detection and embark on aggressive public awareness campaigns in collaboration with community leaders, religious organizations, and local associations to educate women about cervical cancer, its symptoms, and the importance of screening, in order to form partnerships with non-governmental organizations, private healthcare providers, and international health agencies to mobilize resources and technical expertise for sustainable cervical cancer prevention initiatives.