Nigeria has successfully vaccinated over 18 million adolescent girls against the Human Papillomavirus, achieving approximately 76% coverage of its target population in the nationwide push to eradicate cervical cancer.
Speaking at a strategic policy roundtable in Abuja themed “Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination in Nigeria: Uniting Public and Private Sectors for Equitable Access,” Dr. Rufai Garba, Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, highlighted the significant milestone. The event was organized by MSD in partnership with Africa Health Business.
While noting that the milestone is equivalent to vaccinating the populations of three African countries combined, health authorities emphasize that immunization is only the first line of defense. The International Agency for Research on Cancer estimated 13,676 new cervical cancer cases and 7,093 deaths in Nigeria in 2023, with officials noting that the country records roughly 12,000 new cases and nearly 8,000 deaths annually.
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Key Highlights of the National Cervical Cancer Strategy
- Target Population Progress: Over 18 million adolescent girls have received the HPV vaccine since its routine immunisation introduction in October 2023, scaling up from an initial target of 7.7 million girls aged 9 to 14.
- WHO 90-70-90 Goals: Nigeria is actively aligning with the World Health Organization’s global strategy, which aims for 90% of girls fully vaccinated by age 15, 70% of women screened by ages 35 and 45, and 90% of those with pre-cancerous or invasive conditions receiving treatment by 2030.
- Expansion of Screening and Treatment: The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment has introduced the National Initiative for Cancer Early Detection, Screening and Coordinated Access to Network of Care (NISCAN) to streamline early diagnosis, currently being piloted in the Federal Capital Territory before nationwide expansion.
- Public-Private Collaboration: Stakeholders stressed the critical need for deeper private sector integration, mobilizing resources, and embedding preventive screenings into routine maternal and reproductive health services.
- Addressing Distribution Challenges: NPHCDA utilizes a logistics dashboard to monitor stock levels and redistribute vaccines to high-demand areas, while actively combating unauthorized charges for vaccines that are provided free of charge by the government at public health facilities.
As government agencies, international partners, and private stakeholders continue to collaborate, the country aims to bridge existing gaps across the cancer-care continuum to safeguard the health of women and girls nationwide.
