From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health challenge by 2030 through expanded Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, improved screening services, enhanced treatment capacity, and increased domestic investment in cancer prevention and control.
The commitment was reiterated by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, during the International Webinar on Science and Policy Discourse titled “Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination towards the 2030 Agenda: Myth or Reality?” organised by the Nigerian Academy of Medicine (NAMed) in collaboration with the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE).
A statement issued in Abuja by the Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ado Bako, said the minister stressed that cervical cancer elimination remains a top priority of the Federal Government in line with the World Health Organization’s 90-70-90 targets for HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment.
Addressing scientists, policymakers, clinicians, and global health experts, Dr. Salako described cervical cancer as one of the most preventable yet devastating cancers affecting Nigerian women, noting that Nigeria records about 13,676 new cases annually, with most patients diagnosed at advanced stages.
He said that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and with the support of the Renewed Hope Initiative championed by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the government has adopted an integrated, multi-pronged strategy to accelerate cervical cancer elimination.
Highlighting progress in HPV vaccination, the minister disclosed that the nationwide single-dose HPV immunisation programme, introduced in 2023, has reached more than 17 million girls aged between nine and 14 years.
He added that the government is working to increase vaccination coverage beyond 80 per cent by strengthening school-based and community outreach programmes, particularly for out-of-school girls.
Dr. Salako, however, acknowledged that screening and treatment remain the weakest aspects of Nigeria’s cervical cancer response.
He said the government is expanding HPV-based screening at primary healthcare centres, strengthening referral systems for the management of precancerous lesions and cancer cases, and boosting the capacity of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment to serve as regional diagnostic and treatment centres across the country’s geopolitical zones.
He further disclosed that the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination is coordinating nationwide efforts among government agencies and stakeholders to ensure Nigeria meets the 2030 target, while investments are also being made to strengthen health information systems for effective monitoring and evaluation.
According to the minister, these interventions are being supported through partnerships with the Renewed Hope Initiative, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Global Financing Facility, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other development partners.
He assured that the Federal Government would continue to increase domestic funding for cancer prevention and control to guarantee the sustainability of the programme.
Dr. Salako also highlighted Nigeria’s growing global leadership in cervical cancer elimination, noting the country’s co-leadership in the resolution establishing World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day and its recognition as a model for other countries across the Commonwealth and Africa.
Declaring the webinar open, the minister commended the Nigerian Academy of Medicine and the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination for organising the event and urged participants to translate their discussions into concrete actions that would make cervical cancer elimination a reality for every Nigerian woman and girl.
