Screening is a process of detecting very early signs of cancer to prevent its progress. Routine screening is an indispensable tool in the prevention of Cervical cancer. Cervical cancer can be cured if diagnosed at an early stage and treated promptly. Screening and treatment of pre-cancer lesions in women is a cost-effective way to prevent cervical cancer.
Several tests can be used in screening for cervical cancer. Pap Smear is the most commonly used screening method for cervical cancer. The Pap smear (cytology) is the only test that has been used in large populations and that has been shown to reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality. Other tests include Visual Inspection With Acetic Acid (VIA), Visual Inspection With Lugol’s Iodine (VILI), Human PapillomaVirus test, Liquid Based Cytology (LBC).
Routine screening for cervical cancer is currently advised by WHO to commence from age 26 for all individuals with a cervix. Formerly, this was advised from age 21. However, if you experience any symptoms and your doctor sees the need for you to get a pap smear at an age earlier than 21, then don’t deny yourself the chance. Vaccination is more effective before sexual debut because the chances are slimmer for one to have come in contact with HPV (HumanPappiloma Virus). Also, the immune system is stronger in younger people. Vaccination is advised from age 9 – 26 using the Cervarix vaccine and from age 9-45 using the Gardasil vaccine (Which can be used for men and women alike). Fully vaccinating young boys against HPV reduces their chances of having the virus and ultimately reduces the chances of transferring it to women.
A barrage of screening and diagnostic centers are available in Nigeria. Some of these clinics also offer vaccination, and this can go with vaccination. People that are not sexually active do not need to be screened before vaccination.
COST OF SCREENING
The cost of screening varies from center to center, as such, it’s best to call each center to confirm the prices. Averagely the price range are;
VIA – 2000 – 5000 Naira
Pap smear – 3500- 15000 Naira
HPV screening – 10000- 15000 Naira
Generally, the cost is cheaper in government-owned hospitals and NGOs. As some hospitals like Lagos University Teaching Hospital (Community medicine department) charge as low as 3500 Naira for Pap smear and an additional 500 naira for consumables.
Several organizations and NGOs also host outreaches and offer free screening especially between January and February as these are the Cervical Cancer awareness months, so it’s important to be on the lookout for such opportunities. Do well to locate a center closest to you and get screened.
Below is a comprehensive list of some screening centers in Nigeria:
ABIA
ABA
- Abia State University Teaching Hospital⠀
Ahiaba Umeze Road⠀⠀
Pap Smear/VIA Test
- Hopkins Diagnostics, opp Crunchies Bata, Aba, Abia State
- Chees specialist Clinic 90-pound road Aba
UMUAHIA
- Mecure
Opp Federal Medical Center,⠀
Aba – Owerri Road,⠀
07088646026 ⠀
Pap Smear Test⠀
- Federal Medical Center Umuahia.
ABUJA:⠀
- Firmcare Laboratories⠀
Suite A3/A4, Tswanya Centre, Muhammadu Buhari Way, Area 11 Garki., 08081499391.
January offer: (Mention SMILE With Me foundation when booking).
Pap Test: 30% off
Liquid-Based Cytology: N30% off
HPV Testing: 20% off.
- MedicAid
2, Libreville Street, Off Aminu Kano Cres, Wuse 2, Abuja
07030044300, 0708744634
Screening Tests: VIA, Pap Test, HPV Vaccination.
DELTA:
- Oghara
ECHO Scan 08023342566
Pap Smear Test⠀
- Asaba: ECHO Scan⠀
Penny Mart Estate, 272/273 Nnebisi
Road, Opp. First Bank, Beside FCMB⠀
- Federal Medical Centre
Pap Smear Test
- Warri
- Lily Hospital, Warri.
6 Brisibe Lane off Etuwewe, Deco Rd, Warri
0906 245 7091
- WestEnd Hospital, Warri.
1, 25TH Street, Westend Hospital Road,
D.D.P.A., Off Airport Road, Ugborikoko,
Effurun, Warri.
08025374579
Pap Test
- Capitol Hill Hospital, Warri.
38B Airport Road, Warri
0803 410 5481
- Central Hospital, Warri.
Warri GRA, Warri
EDO
- Benin City:⠀
ECHO Scan.
08055666943⠀
Pap Test⠀
- Central Hospital Benin
Pap Test⠀
- University of Benin Teaching Hospital⠀
Pap Test ⠀
KADUNA
- ECHO Scan⠀
4, Katsina Road, by Independence Way.⠀
08023098373⠀
Pap Test
KANO
- MECURE ⠀
8, Post Office Road (Opposite MoH) Kano. ⠀
07088650983⠀
Pap Test⠀
KWARA
- Leah Foundation HQ⠀
Abdulkareem Adisa, GRA,⠀
Ilorin
09080066337⠀
Cryotherapy, Colposcopy, and HPV Vaccination available.
LAGOS
- Sebeccly Cancer Care ⠀
NUT House. 29 Commercial Avenue, Sabo, Yaba⠀
Screening Test: VIA
Call 08170272543⠀
Colposcopy and Cryotherapy treatment available.
- Lagos University Teaching Hospital
The O/G department and the Community Health department,Pap Smear Test Available
- Arrive Alive Diagnostics and Imaging⠀
35 Cole Street off (Same road as Diamond Bank)⠀
Ojuelegba⠀
08091838811⠀
Pap Test
- Foremost Radiology⠀
50 Ogunlana Drive, Surulere⠀
08062392299⠀
Pap Test⠀
- Lakeshore Cancer Center⠀
14 Amodu Tijani Close, Victoria Island.⠀
08034175046⠀
Liquid-Based Cytology.HPV vaccination is available.⠀
- Optimal Cancer Care⠀
118 Bode Thomas Street Surulere⠀
08081076646⠀
Screening Test: VIA⠀
(Monday to Thursday).
Free on Fridays throughout January.⠀
- The Bridge Clinic (MediCentre)⠀
66 Oduduwa Way, GRA Ikeja⠀
09068350060⠀
Liquid-Based Cytology
HPV Vaccination and HPV Testing⠀
- Well Woman Clinic⠀
2nd Floor Surgical Outpatient⠀
Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH)⠀
Idi-Araba, Clinic Hours: 9a.m – 1p.m⠀
Screening Test: Pap Test⠀
HPV Vaccination available
- Medicheck⠀
46 Oduduwa Crescent GRA Ikeja⠀
08189804994⠀
Pap Test⠀
- Help Diagnostics (Maryland & Ikorodu)⠀
Behind Mobil Filling Station, Maryland.⠀
09090146050, 08187151810⠀
Pap Test⠀
- The Specialist Laboratories ⠀
6, Sodipo St Off Mabo Street⠀
Surulere⠀
08025789286⠀
Screening Tests;
Pap Test, HPV DNA Testing.
- Mecure Lekki and Oshodi⠀
Niyi Okunubi st, Lekki phase 1
07000632873⠀
Pap Test⠀
- Marie Stopes Clinic
Surulere Center- Lawanson, 105 ltire Rd, Surulere.
- Healing Stripes Cancer Screening and diagnostic center.
14 Alh. Masha Rd, Surulere
0808 891 1388
- Synlab Nigeria
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Skye Bank Building, A&E Spill-Over Ward, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Surulere
08104607651.
- Clina Lancet Laboratories
44, Atunrase st, Ishaga Tedo, Surulere
07046181382, 08126342294.
- Broad Places radiology
15, Babatunde Street off Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos
08023667777
- Help Diagnostics (Maryland & Ikorodu)
Behind Mobil Filling Station, Maryland.
09090146050, 08187151810.
- APlus Diagnostics
10, Prince Bode Oliwo street, Mende, Maryland
08108476647
- South Shore Women’s Clinic
5B, Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA,
09094462222
- Breast and Gynaecology Centre
276a, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island
08037873325
- Euracare Multi specialist hospital
293, Jide Oki Street, Victoria Island
08091117963
- Clina Lancet Laboratories
3, Babatunde Jose off Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island
07046181382, 08126342294
- Synlab Nigeria
Ground Floor, 64 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island
070072842273
Lekki:
- Clearview hospital
14b, Taiye Olowu street, off Victoria Arobieke Street, Lekki phase 1
09030000627
- George’s Memorial Medical Centre
6, Rasheed Alaba Williams Lekki Phase 1
08078191607
- Oncopadi
360 Herbert Macaulay Way, Sabo Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
09069385125
The Oncopadiapp is also available for download. You can order a test online. Oncoshop Signin
OGUN
- KAAF Foundation⠀
IPERU (Near Babcock Uni) OGUN STATE⠀
KAAF Building.⠀
Iperu. ⠀
VIA.
Free every 3rd week of the month.⠀
Thursday – Saturday. 08132354647
OSUN
- MicCom Foundation
Free Cervical Screening and HPV testing
Gynae – Oncology unit
Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, (OAUTH)
Ile-Ife.
09063189820
OYO
- Family Specialist Hospital
15 b Water Reservoir Road,
Oluwonla Area, (beside Oluwonla Police Station) Bashorun.
08097763300
- Family Specialist Hospital
13, General Gas Road.
Akobo, Ibadan.
Pap Smear
- ABC Foundation ⠀
Block 1 plot 4, Ibadan Municipal Government,⠀
off Adeoyo State hospital. Ring Road.⠀
VIA (Visual Inspection with acetic acid)
HPV testing
07010368526⠀
- MECURE IBADAN⠀
5, Awosika Avenue, Old Bodija.⠀
07066615139⠀
Pap Test⠀
PLATEAU
- Meena Histopathology Lab⠀
Constitution Hill Rd, Close to Christian Pilgrims board. Jos⠀
08091555722⠀
Pap Test
RIVERS
- Hugo Health Systems⠀
82 Peter Odili Road⠀
08037908623, 09052339306⠀
HPV Testing and Vaccination available (Mention CancerAware when booking)
I hope this helps you on your journey towards achieving health and wellness. We will do well to update this list as we progress. If your center would like to partner with us to connect more women to screening services, do well to send us an email. Don’t forget, early detection is key. Cervical cancer is preventable and treatable. Let’s collectively reduce the statistics. Read, comment and share.