- as Governors endorse initiative
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday officially launched the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCIN).
PECCIN, spearheaded by the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE), seeks to fast-track Nigeria’s achievement of the World Health Organization’s 90-70-90 targets by 2030. These targets aim to vaccinate 90% of girls aged 9 to 14 against HPV, screen 70% of eligible women for precancerous lesions, and ensure 90% of women diagnosed with cervical disease receive timely treatment.
Addressing dignitaries, health officials, and development partners at the State House Conference Center, the First Lady described the launch as “the beginning of a transformational journey in the health and dignity of Nigerian women and girls.”
She stressed the urgent need to tackle cervical cancer, which ranks as the second most common cancer among Nigerian women after breast cancer and is often a silent killer targeting the most vulnerable.
“Cervical cancer is preventable,” Mrs Tinubu stated. “Nigeria has shown that it is possible to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030. Last year, we made a breakthrough by launching the Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) nationally, protecting over 12 million girls in just nine months.”
The First Lady highlighted the critical role of the Renewed Hope Agenda on Health, championed by President Bola Tinubu, in prioritizing the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health threat. She praised the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and global partners including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Gates Foundation, WHO, and UNICEF for their support.
However, she cautioned that the effort must not stop at vaccination alone. “We must build on this momentum by expanding HPV screening, scaling up treatment through innovative, cost-effective technologies, and ensuring these services reach primary and secondary healthcare facilities where they are needed most.”
Mrs Tinubu called for a united front involving state and local governments, healthcare professionals, educational institutions, and religious and traditional leaders. “It behoves on our leaders to advocate for truth and science,” she urged.
Recognizing the financial demands of this initiative, the First Lady announced a commitment of One Billion Naira through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to support the campaign. She appealed to state governors, business leaders, and development partners to contribute resources toward this life-saving cause.
“I call on all development partners, the private sector, NGOs, and academic institutions to commit their resources, expertise, and innovation to this campaign. Together, we must invest in a future where no woman dies from a disease that is preventable,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu also commended the leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, and the Chairman of the National Task Force for Cervical Cancer Elimination, Isaac Adewole, for their dedication to health sector reforms.
Addressing healthcare providers, the First Lady said, “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 concluded with a hopeful vision: “If we all join hands to make this Partnership work, in the next five years alone, we can prevent at least 60,000 deaths from cervical cancer in Nigeria. Let us rise to this occasion and write a new chapter, one where every Nigerian girl and woman can live free from cervical cancer.”
Nigeria Governors Forum also endorsed the national initiative to combat cervical cancer, affirming the collective commitment of state governments to tackle this pressing health challenge.
Represented by Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, the governors expressed strong support for the partnership, which is championed by the First Lady of Nigeria and aims to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer across the country.
Uzodinma highlighted the governors’ readiness to adopt necessary policies at the state level and ensure the allocation of domestic funding for cervical cancer prevention and treatment programs.
He stressed the importance of strengthening primary healthcare systems to deliver equitable services, especially to women in rural and underserved communities.
“We are prepared to work actively to close gaps in our healthcare delivery and collaborate with partners to provide families access to screening, vaccines, and education,” Uzodinma said. “This initiative aligns with our belief that every Nigerian woman has the right to quality healthcare, regardless of income or location.”
He praised the leadership of the First Lady, describing her as a tireless advocate who has transformed maternal and public health concerns into practical actions, including expanding rural outreach and mobilizing midwives nationwide.
Uzodinma also commended the Federal Minister of Health, the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer, and other stakeholders for their collaborative efforts in making this initiative possible. He noted the alarming statistics of cervical cancer’s impact in Nigeria but expressed optimism due to recent successes, such as the vaccination of over 20 million girls against HPV in 2024.
“Cancer affects hundreds of thousands of Nigerians annually, causing immense suffering,” Uzodinma stated. “However, with coordinated efforts and strong community engagement, prevention and treatment are within reach.”
In closing, Uzodinma thanked the wives of state governors for their ongoing public health advocacy and the Nigerian Governors Forum, under the leadership of the Governor of Ebonyi State, for their unwavering support.
“Together, as a nation, we can eliminate cervical cancer,” he affirmed. “The governors stand united in prioritising this cause in our budgets and policies to safeguard the health and futures of Nigerian women.”
Earlier Adewole, Chairman of the NTF-CCE and former Minister of Health, highlighted the urgency of the initiative: “Approximately 60 million Nigerian women are at risk of developing cervical cancer, and sadly, about 22 women die daily from this preventable and treatable disease.” He stressed that PECCIN will drive coordinated, sub-national government-led expansion of cervical cancer elimination activities and foster multisectoral collaboration across public and private sectors.
Vice chair of the committee, Zainab Shinkafi-Bagadu, highlighted the significance of the launch of PECCiN, emphasising a renewed commitment to combating cervical cancer in the country.
She reflected on the progress Nigeria has made in recent years, noting that despite previous challenges, there has been a remarkable increase in investment in the health sector, including the establishment of six new health facilities over the past two years. She proudly stated that approximately 13 million Nigerian girls have been vaccinated against HPV during this period, a milestone that aligns Nigeria with other leading African countries like Rwanda in the fight against cervical cancer.
She urged all Nigerians to actively participate by spreading accurate information through their networks, including workplaces, churches, women’s groups, and social media platforms, to overcome misinformation and stigma surrounding cervical cancer.
She also acknowledged the challenges that remain, particularly in ensuring widespread access to cervical cancer screening services in rural and underserved communities.
Shinkafi-Bagadu called for innovative approaches and stronger collaboration among stakeholders to make screening freely available and accessible to all women.
She passionately conveyed that cervical cancer is not a death sentence if caught early and treated, and she emphasized the critical role of the HPV vaccine, which has been available free of charge in Nigeria since October last year for girls aged 9 to 14.
The initiative brings together a broad coalition including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, World Health Organization (WHO), National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Nigeria Governors’ Forum, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Clinton Health Alliance Initiative (CHAI), Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), and the Gates Foundation.