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| December 2007 |
Opinion |
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Liberia embraces science, wart vaccines and all setting positive exampleBy Dr Garth CambrayThe future of Africa depends on the ability of our leaders to choose and
apply relevant technologies to develop and stabilize the continent. As one of
the most highly qualified leaders in Africa, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of
Liberia is leading the way in taking an effective stance on the implementation
of technologies which reduce cervical cancer in women. Given that it is widely
recognized that the future economic growth of Africa will be driven by our
women, this is perhaps a wise and visionary move. In women, certain HPV infections of the cervix can lead to cervical cancer. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, and the commencement of sexual activity in women is the point at which infection with HPV normally begins. In many cases an HPV infection will be controlled and eliminated by the immune system, but in certain cases, such as when genital warts form, the infection is obvious. In the case of the beginnings of cervical cancer, the symptoms are less obvious and it is necessary to observe the cells in the cervix to check for abnormalities. In developed countries women have yearly pap smears which can detect the occurrence of cervical cancers. In developing countries, limited medical infrastructure, cost and cultural factors deny many women access to such check-ups with the result that more than 500 000 women per year develop HPV related cervical cancer and 250 000 die as a result. Africa's share of these infections is about 79 000 women per year, with 62 000 deaths as a result of these infections. Given that the majority of infections occur in the age bracket between 15 and 44, these deaths represent a serious loss in human resource potential, and mean that young children and teenagers are left without mothers. Recently two vaccines have been developed which provide protection against some of the most common HPV strains. Gardasil protects against strains which cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of the strains causing genital warts. Merck, who developed the Gardasil HPV Vaccine, have agreed to inoculate 1 million women in some of the least affluent nations on Earth. This is a serious commitment of resources as the inoculation strategy requires three injections over a period of six months and costs approximately US$360 per person. With all technology, the political will, intelligence and vision, of a government in persuading voters to embrace and empower themselves is important. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia is a highly educated leader with degrees from her home country, as well as the University of Colorado, and a masters in public administration from Harvard University. In addition to these qualifications she has very real experience heading Citi Bank in Kenya, and working as a senior official in the UN Development Program making her one of the best qualified leaders in Africa. From a scientific development perspective President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia represents a leader who can lead by example demonstrating the positive developmental effects that good leadership, marketing and technology can bring to a developing democracy. The following is an excerpt from a speech given by President Sirleaf of Liberia at the Unifem International Conference on Cervical Cancer in Brussels this year. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Belgian Government for hosting this conference and to compliment UNIFEM and the European Commission on convening this event. Cervical cancer is an insidious disease. It affects women in the prime of their lives. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in developing countries. And yet, with good screening and follow-up treatment, this disease is totally preventable. Annually, 500,000 women are affected by this disease. Over half of them die from it. No less than 80% of these deaths occur in developing countries. This conference comes at an important time. In the last year, 2 vaccines have been licensed that protect women from contracting the Human Papilloma virus that leads to the development of cervical cancer. This presents us with a new way to look at cervical cancer prevention that can revolutionize the way we tackle this disease. My message to you today is to be visionary! Let us not get bogged down in details of bureaucracy and bottlenecks at this stage. We need to use the momentum of these developments to harness political will and create a threshold of support from all stakeholders to rein in this disease and make it a thing of the past. This will involve awareness raising at all levels of society. The general public as well as policymakers need to know the facts to be able to advocate for and support actions. In parallel, of course, we need to address the many unanswered questions about pricing and cost effectiveness. No doubt there will be challenging issues that arise given that this is a disease that is sexually transmitted. The road ahead may be long, but we should use this process to promote women's health and involve all key actors. From a gender perspective, one key to promoting women's health is to support women in the legislative and policymaking process. Since my inauguration in 2006, it has been my mission to give prominence to Liberian women in all affairs our country. The health sector is no exception. I would like to see healthy and educated women at all levels in society making decisions about their lives and the health of our country. In many countries including my own, there are numerous challenges in getting basic health care to vulnerable groups. In Liberia, we now have strong immunization coverage for children under 5. We have also abolished tuition fees for primary school and have scholarships for secondary school. We encourage girls to enroll and giving them basic education and life skills. We also vaccinate in schools. This might provide a platform for the creation of a children's or pre-teen health package. Such a package could focus on health promotion and disease prevention, with screening and behavioral skills training. If we think big, opportunities abound and creativity is enhanced. The international community has already shown its commitment to health for all by creating various mechanisms to ensure that new health technologies reach those who need them, not only those who can afford them. For example, Anti-retrovirals were once deemed too expensive and too complicated for our countries. I do not need to spell out how the combination of political will and partnerships of many different kinds changed that situation forever. I hope you share my vision that in the near future, women around the world will not need to worry about themselves or their daughters who are vulnerable to this disease. Today, I would like to add my voice to those demanding that cervical cancer prevention gets the international political recognition it deserves. I feel that we are at the threshold of a new era for cervical cancer prevention. International conferences like this one should be a catalyst for action and make rhetoric into reality." More information:
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