Korede Abdullah in Lagos
In a bid to raise awareness about the dangers of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a team of medical practitioners from the HPV Consortium, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, organized a road show across Ibadan Metropolis.
The awareness campaign, which commenced at the University College Hospital (UCH), moved through key locations such as the State Secretariat and Bodija Market, and concluded at the University of Ibadan.
The road show aimed to educate the public on the impact of HPV, a sexually transmitted virus that affects both men and women, and encourage prevention through screening and vaccination.
Professor Imran Morhason-Bello, Lead Investigator of the HPV Consortium and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, emphasized the urgency of the campaign, stating, “The campaign became imperative to sensitise the public on the prevention, screening and vaccination for Human Papilloma Virus, HPV in order to reduce its spread in the Society.”
He warned that persistent high-risk HPV could lead to serious health conditions including cervical cancer in women, penile and anal cancer in men, as well as mouth and throat cancers in both sexes.
Low-risk HPV, he added, could result in genital warts. He urged members of the public to visit the HPV office at the College of Medicine inside UCH, or call 0704700531 for more information.
The professor further highlighted the importance of early intervention, saying, “Girls and boys between 9 and 14 years old who are not yet sexually active are free to be vaccinated, while those who have been sexually active would be subjected to screening to ascertain their HPV status.”
He noted that the HPV Consortium not only promotes awareness but also offers therapeutic interventions and treatment to those in need.
He called on women, in particular, to undertake regular HPV screenings for early detection and prevention of cervical cancer.
Prior to the road show, Professor Morhason-Bello and his team also appeared on Radio Nigeria to amplify their message through broadcast media.
