Hello @SMILEWithmeNGO I am glad to be here. Thank you for having me.

A very big welcome to everyone joining today’s conversation. Our guest today needs no introduction especially in the sphere of cancer control and advocacy. Welcome @runciecwc
#CheatCervicalCancer

@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc Q1: So Runcie @runciecwc, we see all the amazing work you do as an advocate.
Can you share with us some of the work that you have been doing in cancer control in Nigeria?
#CheatCervicalCancer
@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc That’s amazing. Your work speaks for you. Thanks for all you do.
Q2: What is this @WHO Global Strategy to accelerate the Elimination of CervicalCancer? Can you elaborate on it?
#CheatCervicalCancer
@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc @WHO Q3: In your experience, so far what are the greatest challenges you have identified with cancer control in Nigeria?
#CheatCervicalCancer.
@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc @WHO Q4: Interestingly, we have seen that your organization is part of the Coalition of CSOs against Cervical Cancer in Nigeria, @CervicalCancerN, what is the goal of this Coalition? #CheatCervicalCancer
@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc @WHO @CervicalCancerN Q5: We know of many NGOs fighting this same course who would like to join @CervicalCancerN, how can they join? #CheatCervicalCancer
@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc @WHO @CervicalCancerN Q6: What does this @WHO Global Strategy to accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer mean to Nigerians? Have we adopted it as a country and what plans are in ground?

 #CheatCervicalCancer
@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc @WHO @CervicalCancerN Q7: What is cervical cancer and can it be prevented?
 #CheatCervicalCancer
@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc @WHO @CervicalCancerN Q8:
We have heard so much about the HPV infection. What is this Human Papilloma virus?
#CheatCervicalCancer
@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc @WHO @CervicalCancerN Q9: Tell us a bit more about Human Papillomavirus Vaccines?
What do we need to know as individuals?
#CheatCervicalCancer
@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc @WHO @CervicalCancerN Q10: So you have told us a lot about this HPV vaccine and it’s benefits. Now, given the present increase in Vaccine hesitancy all over the world including Nigeria, especially as regards Covid19,
Do you see this as a problem, how can we navigate it?
#CheatCervicalCancer
@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc @WHO @CervicalCancerN Q11: Will the @WHO global strategy on Elimination of #CervicalCancer benefit Nigerians, since we know that millions of Nigerians cannot afford this HPV vaccine?

#CheatCervicalCancer
@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc @WHO @CervicalCancerN Q12:
How can state governments help in ensuring their people have access to the lifesaving HPV vaccine? #CheatCervicalCancer
@SMILEWithmeNGO @runciecwc @WHO @CervicalCancerN Q13:
What is the role of Nigerians in this strategy?
What can we do to support the work of the government as regards elimination of Cervical Cancer in Nigeria?
Protective measures.
#CheatCervicalCancer

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Some thoughts on this: Firstly, it might be personal preference, but I am not keen on this kind of campaign as I feel like it trivialises cancer. Sometimes the serious message gets lost because people are sharing pics of cats or whatever and the important context is gone.


More importantly, the statistic being used in the campaign is misleading. It says 57% of women put off cervical screening if they can't get waxed. But on further investigation, that's not accurate.

The page here goes on to say "57% of women who regularly have their pubic hair professionally removed would put off attending their cervical screening appointment if they hadn’t been able to visit a beauty salon."

So the 57% represents a concern not across the whole population of women, but only those who regularly get waxed. So how big of an issue is this across the whole population? And what else is stopping people getting smears?

I think campaigns for cancer screening are really tricky because there is so much nuance that often doesn't fit into a catchy headline or hashtag. It's certainly not easy and is part of a bigger conversation.
Let's talk honestly about "informed consent."
Someone with decades of training gives someone with none advice usually packed into 1-3 mins. Huge amount is based on trust. Huge potential for bias built in. But also there is no obligation to provide real alternative options.


I am classified as 'gifted' (obnoxious and ableist term). I mention because of what I am about to say. You all know that I was an ambulatory wheelchair user previously - could stand - but contractures have ended that. When I pleaded for physio, turned down. But did you know...

I recently was chatting with a doctor I know and explaining what happened and the day the physiatrist told me it was too late and nothing could be done. The doctor asked if I'd like one of her friends/colleagues to give second opinion. I said yes please! So...

She said can you send me MRI and other imaging they did to determine it wasn't possible to address your contractures.

Me: What?
Dr.: They did a MRI first before deciding right?
Me: No
Dr: What did they do??!
Me: Examined me for 2 minutes.
Dr: I am very angry rn. Can't talk.

My point is you don't even know if you are making "informed" decisions because the only source of information you have is the person who has already decided what they think you should do. And may I remind you of a word called 'compliance.'

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I just finished Eric Adler's The Battle of the Classics, and wanted to say something about Joel Christiansen's review linked below. I am not sure what motivates the review (I speculate a bit below), but it gives a very misleading impression of the book. 1/x


The meat of the criticism is that the history Adler gives is insufficiently critical. Adler describes a few figures who had a great influence on how the modern US university was formed. It's certainly critical: it focuses on the social Darwinism of these figures. 2/x

Other insinuations and suggestions in the review seem wildly off the mark, distorted, or inappropriate-- for example, that the book is clickbaity (it is scholarly) or conservative (hardly) or connected to the events at the Capitol (give me a break). 3/x

The core question: in what sense is classics inherently racist? Classics is old. On Adler's account, it begins in ancient Rome and is revived in the Renaissance. Slavery (Christiansen's primary concern) is also very old. Let's say classics is an education for slaveowners. 4/x

It's worth remembering that literacy itself is elite throughout most of this history. Literacy is, then, also the education of slaveowners. We can honor oral and musical traditions without denying that literacy is, generally, good. 5/x