’60 million women in Nigeria at risk of developing cervical cancer’

The National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE) says 60 million women in Nigeria are at risk of developing cervical cancer.

The Chairman of the NTF-CCE, Prof. Isaac Adewole, made the disclosure in Abuja during the launch of Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCIN).

Prof. Adewole said approximately 22 women die daily from the preventable and treatable disease in the country.

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He said, “Women living with HIV face a sixfold increased risk of developing cervical cancer compared to women in the general population. 80% of women with cervical cancer currently present late, when treatment and complete recovery are no longer possible.”

Prof Adewole said the objectives of PECCIN is to drive sub-national government —led coordinated expansion of cervical cancer elimination activities , and foster multisectoral coordination and collaboration.

He said the goal of PECCIN is to vaccinate eight million girls annually, and screen eight million women annually, adding that it is geared towards screening 15 million Nigerian women by 2027.

Flagging off the initiative, First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, said eliminating cervical cancer requires collaborative action, and that state and local governments, as well as healthcare professionals, must all prioritize women’s health.

While saying that Nigeria has shown that it is possible to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, she called on all development partners, the private sector, NGOs, and academic institutions to commit their resources, expertise, and innovation to the campaign.

She said, “We count on you all to ensure that this collaboration succeeds. To our healthcare providers, you are the face of hope for millions of Nigerian women. I appeal to you to continue to serve with professionalism and compassion. Our women and girls are counting on you.”

She also said at least 60,000 deaths from cervical cancer in Nigeria will be prevented in the next five years alone, if everyone all join hands to make the partnership work.

Minister of state for health, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said despite being preventable, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer, mortality among Nigerian women as a result of ignorance , late presentation and sub- optimal treatment infrastructure.

He said the federal government is committed to changing the narrative, adding that the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) in 2023 to protect young girls from cervical cancer has led to the vaccination of 14 million girls in the country with the vaccine.

Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum ( NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who was represented by the Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma, highlighted the commitment of governors towards supporting the initiative and elimination of cervical cancer in the country.

The vice chairman of the NTF-CCE, Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu said about 12,000 cases and 8, 000 deaths were recorded from cervical cancer in Nigeria every year .

She said ending cervical cancer in Nigeria requires collective efforts, not just the work of government alone.

She said, “2025 is a year of precision medicine . It is a year of artificial intelligence. It is a year where no girl, no woman should die with cervical cancer.”

PECCIN members were drawn from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, World Health Organisation (WHO), National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), NPHCDA, Clinton Health Alliance Initiative (CHAI), Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) and the the Gates Foundation.