533
By Tracy Moses
Nigeria has once again reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating cervical cancer as the country joins the global community in marking World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.
The statement was made by Isaac Adewole, Chairman of the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE), during a briefing with journalists at the National Assembly on Monday. He was represented by Dr. Usman Waziri, Director of Cancer Prevention and Control at the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), who described cervical cancer as a largely preventable disease that still claims thousands of lives in Nigeria every year.
Adewole disclosed that the Task Force had secured a ₦1 billion donation from the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to support nationwide cervical cancer screening. He also highlighted the formation of a National Project Implementation Subcommittee, chaired by Okechukwu Ikpeze, President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Nigeria (SOGON).
“The subcommittee will oversee a nationwide rollout of HPV testing across the six geopolitical zones, using the ₦1 billion as seed funding. Selection of states for the pilot program will require a commitment to provide counterpart funding to ensure sustainability,” he explained.
This year’s theme, ‘Act Now: Eliminate Cervical Cancer,’ underscores Nigeria’s resolve to expand vaccination, screening, and treatment programs across the country.
Cervical cancer remains the second most prevalent cancer among Nigerian women, with 2022 data showing 14,089 new cases and 8,240 deaths, resulting in a fatality rate of approximately 60 percent. “Although vaccines and early detection methods exist, cervical cancer continues to pose a serious public health challenge,” Adewole noted.
He highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in the global fight against the disease, recalling that in 2018, the country was the only nation to join WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the United Nations General Assembly in calling for international collaboration to eliminate cervical cancer. This initiative led to the launch of the global elimination strategy on 17th November 2020.
The NTF-CCE was established in 2024, with Adewole as Chairman, Sani Malami, former President of the Nigerian Cancer Society, as Secretary, and Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, President-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), as Vice Chair.
The Task Force also launched the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCiN), which aims to vaccinate 8 million adolescent girls and screen 8 million women annually. “The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency will oversee vaccine delivery, while NICRAT will coordinate screening efforts,” Adewole said.
Nigeria has made impressive progress in HPV vaccination, administering the vaccine to over 15 million girls in just two years, compared with 6 million across Africa in 2022, effectively tripling coverage on the continent.
In recognition of legislative support for health initiatives, the National Assembly will be illuminated in teal, the global colour for cervical cancer awareness.
“Our goal is clear: to place Nigeria firmly on the path toward eliminating cervical cancer. Through political backing, public engagement, and efficient implementation of vaccination and screening programs, we can save lives and prevent needless deaths,” Adewole said, calling for sustained collaboration with state governments, health agencies, and civil society organizations to meet the Task Force’s objectives.