The Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, in partnership with Dr. Lisa Flowers from Emory University in the United States, has provided state-of-the-art medical devices to 10 hospitals to facilitate cervical cancer screenings.

The donated equipment comprises Videocolposcopes, Thermocoagulator Kits, Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure machines, and Evalyn Brushes for self-sample collection.

This significant technological advancement, unveiled at the NIMR headquarters in Lagos, is a crucial step forward in combatting a disease that annually impacts numerous Nigerian women. According to the World Health Organization, between 23 to 28 women lose their lives daily to cervical cancer in Nigeria.

Cervical cancer, attributable to the human papillomavirus, is a preventable ailment. Director-General of NIMR, Professor Babatunde Salako, highlighted during the donation event that the new equipment will enhance Nigeria’s testing capabilities for cervical cancer.

Furthermore, health professionals from the recipient hospitals underwent a three-day training session on operating the equipment, ensuring optimal use and efficacy in cervical cancer screenings.

He stated, “This equipment will enable these hospitals to screen a lot of women to detect anything that has to do with cervical cancer.

“The Screening provides the opportunity to detect early and take the necessary actions rather than detecting late when treatment becomes difficult.

“The donation of the equipment is a research project that is free and the essence is to support the hospitals even after the research is over to continue the screening.”

Dr. Lisa Flowers, a professor specializing in Gynecology & Obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine in the United States, mentioned that the project and contribution were financed by the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. As the Director of Colposcopy Services at Grady Cancer Center, Flowers highlighted the purpose of the initiative, which is to revolutionize the detection of cervical cancer by implementing primary HPV testing.

“We came to Nigeria to make a difference in the fight against cervical cancer and we have worked with the team in Nigeria for six months after writing a grant to get funds from NIH to carry out this work.

“Our team and the Nigeria team have worked as a committed group to model this research work that can be shared in any other part of the world.

“The donated equipment will enable users to see hidden and abnormal cells in the cervix and make decisions on the spot.

“Unlike the pap smear which is just a sampling of what is on the cervix, the HPV testing will indicate if a woman is negative or positive for further investigation.

“The pap smear has done a good job in the past but it is not the best way to screen and test for cervical cancer,” she mentioned.

The medical facilities that received support from the donation encompass a variety of institutions across different states in Nigeria.

Beneficiaries include renowned hospitals such as Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital in Kano, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Delta State University Teaching Hospital in Oghara, and the Federal University of Health Sciences in Benue State.

Additionally, other recipients of the equipment are Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Island Maternity in Lagos, St Kizito Clinic in Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Anambra, and the NIMR HIV Treatment Centre.