Mrs M. S presented to our little facility with complaints of some growth around her vulva and vagina walls of 4 months duration. She says they have grown too fast that she palpates new growths almost everyday. We examined her and discovered some multiple islands of warty lesions around her vulva and majoras. She has got warts caused by a sexually transmitted virus called the human papilloma virus. The HPV causes warts and Cervical cancer, the one cancer that we know it's cause and probably offers an opportunity for cure. The virus comes in various strains, strength so to speak. The most common are the 6, 11, 16 and 18. 6 and 11 are benign strains causing lesions such as this one. 16 and 18 are known to cause over 70% of cervical cancer. This is of public health importance because as at 2018, over 500 thousand people were newly infected world wide and over 300 died of cervical cancer. It is mostly a sexually transmitted disease and therefore it is important for presexual girls between ages of 9 and 12 are caught and vaccinated before onset of sexual activities through primary prevention. Those 30 and above should be screened regularly to catch precancerous lesions on time via secondary prevention while those with cancers are managed by way of tertiary prevention and of course rehabilitation. Screening services without intervention is unethical. One cannot raise the fears of ladies and leave them hanging without help. We need to do more in terms of prevention and promotion through health education directed at our young ladies to catch them before they are exposed to these very contagious sexually transmitted diseases.
WHO, through its world assembly, has set a target of 90-70-90 within 2020-2030. 90% of girls within the age of 9 and 12 should have been vaccinated. 70% of women should have been screened at age 30 and another at 45. 90% of women who come down with precancerous lesions would have been commenced on treatment. Our patient was advised appropriately and offered treatment for the lesions. I could see the sign of relief and worry all finding room on her face. The rural doctor initiative… Everyone deserves good health.
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