...As NGO Launches 'Vaccinate Your Gals' Initiative
According to a new global cancer report compiled by the UN Agency, the IARC shows: as a single entity, cancer is the biggest cause of mortality worldwide, "there were an estimated 8.2 million deaths from cancer in 2012. Global cancer incidence over four years increased by 11 per cent to an estimated 14.1 million cases in 2012--equal to the population of India's largest city (Mumbai).
"Cancer cases worldwide are forecast to rise by 75 per cent and reach close to 25 million over the next two decades," the report reads.
"The rise of cancer worldwide is a major obstacle to human development and well-being," comments Dr Christopher Wild, Director of IARC. "These new figures and projections send a strong signal that immediate action is needed to confront this human disaster, which touches every community worldwide, without exception," stresses Dr Wild.
The World Cancer Report 2014 confirms that inequality exists in cancer control and care globally. The number of deaths due to the disease amongst the world's poor is growing at a faster rate than previously expected. Specifically, by 2025 almost 80 per cent of the increase in the number of all cancer deaths will occur in less developed regions.
Speaking during the unveiling of the BWS initiative called cervical cancer vaccination awareness initiative with the slogal 'Vaccinate Your Gals,' at a press briefing, President and Founder of the NGO, Professor Ifeoma Okoye said, "cancer is an enemy and has climbed up so vigorously to take the seat of eminence. Cancer is now the world's biggest killer. It is responsible for more deaths than TB, Malaria, HIV/AIDS, with a number of cases set to explode in the next few years. Men are more likely to have cancer than women because they are less likely to check their health before they get a cancer."
Okoye said, "youths are encouraged to watch their diet, eat fruits and vegetables, stay away from energy-dense foods and sodas which are sugar-laden. The addition of salt, the load of salt in food preservatives is increasing the incidence of non-communicable diseases."
Unlike the developed countries, a large proportion of cancers in developing nations are caused by infections, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV), which accounts for more than 85 per cent of all HPV-related cancer cases.
Low and middle income countries are most at risk of overwhelming their health systems and hindering economic growth, as they have the least resources and infrastructure to cope with the predicted levels of disease escalation. Worryingly, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), only 50 per cent of low and middle income countries have operational Cancer Control Plans.
"Government must recognise the growing cancer burden in their country. The new figures from IARC show that the incidence of cancer globally will continue to grow unless we recognise the threat and act on it now. On Wolrd Cancer Day, we demand that Governments around the world move to stop the millions of predicted, needless and premature deaths caused by cancer by developing and implementing a national plan which includes proven preventive and early detection measure," urges Cary Adams, Chief Executive Officer, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).
With spiraling care and treatment expenditure, poor and wealthy nations must all contribute in the fight against cancer. Currently almost 4.2 million people per year die prematurely (aged 30 to 69 years) due to the disease across the world. Unless decisive action is taken to develop practical strategies to address cancer, this is projected to increase to well over five million premature deaths per year by 2025.
However, to emphasise the importance of reduction of stigma and long-standing cancer myths, BWS is marking the day while promoting the revised world cancer declaration which was launched in November 2013 at the Wolrd Cancer Summit.
Even though, the year's theme focuses on target 5 of the new world cancer declaration (reduce stigma that aims at meeting target 3 and 5 of this new world cancer declaration, the NGO intends to meet Target 3 which aims at reducing exposure to cancer risk factors and target 4 aimed at universal coverage of HPV (Humanpapilloma Virus) and Hepatitis B virus vaccination in 2014 through its new initiative to kick start on April 3rd.
The school-based HPV vaccination awareness aims at increasing awareness and uptake of the HPV vaccine, an efficacious vaccine readily manufactured and marketed by two global pharmaceutical companies that have a presence in Nigeria.
National Programme Coordinator, BWS, Ms Oluwafunmilola James said, "the life saving vaccine which is now affordable under this initiative is given in 3 doses over the course of 6 months and confers long-lasting protection against the HPV, which is responsible foe causing 100 per cent of cervical cancer.
"This school-based HPV vaccination thrust is necessitated by the rising prevalence of cervical cancer in Nigeria."
According to the cervical cancer crisis global card, 14, 555 cervical cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Nigerian women within the age range of 15-44 years.
Also, studies from various countries have shown that school-based vaccination strategy is the most effective strategy to use in reaching young girls within the target age group of 9-15 years. This defines BWS's justification for adopting the school-based vaccination strategy to meet targets 3 and 4 of the revised world cancer declaration.
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