Nigeria Vaccinates 17 Million Girls Against HPV

More than 17 million girls aged 9 to 14 have received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as Nigeria steps up efforts to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat by 2030, the Federal Government has said.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, disclosed this while delivering the opening address at the International Webinar on Science and Policy Discourse titled “Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination towards 2030 Agenda: Myth or Reality?”

The webinar was organised by the Nigerian Academy of Medicine in collaboration with the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako.

Salako said the nationwide single-dose HPV vaccination programme, launched in 2023 and expanded across the country, has recorded significant progress. He said the government’s next priority is to raise vaccination coverage above 80 per cent through schools and community outreach, especially among out-of-school girls.

He said the Federal Government has placed cervical cancer elimination at the centre of its health agenda in line with the World Health Organization’s 90-70-90 targets on HPV vaccination, screening and treatment.

Describing cervical cancer as one of the most preventable yet deadliest cancers affecting Nigerian women, the minister said the country records about 13,676 new cases annually, with most patients presenting at advanced stages.

According to him, the government is implementing an integrated strategy under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, with support from the Renewed Hope Initiative of First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to accelerate progress towards the 2030 elimination target.

Salako acknowledged that screening and treatment remain the weakest links in Nigeria’s response. He said efforts are underway to expand HPV-based screening at primary healthcare centres, strengthen referral systems and enhance the capacity of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment to serve as regional diagnosis and treatment centres across the country’s geopolitical zones.

He added that the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination is coordinating nationwide interventions, while investments are being made to strengthen health information systems for effective monitoring and evaluation.

The minister said the programme is supported by partners including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Global Financing Facility, UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He assured that the Federal Government would continue to increase domestic funding for cancer prevention and control.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s growing global role in cervical cancer elimination, noting that the country co-led the resolution establishing World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day and is increasingly being recognised as a model for other Commonwealth and African countries.

Salako urged stakeholders to translate discussions from the webinar into concrete actions that will accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer and improve the health outcomes of Nigerian women and girls.