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By Doris Obinna
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, is making significant strides in the fight against cervical cancer through its landmark project, Actions for Collaborative Community-Engaged Strategies for HPV (ACCESS-HPV), also known locally as 4GW (For Girls & Women). The initiative aims to boost the uptake of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among girls and promote HPV screening among women across Nigeria.
Speaking during its media chats, Public Health Physician and Research Fellow at NIMR, Dr. Agatha Wapmuk, said that cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge globally and in Nigeria, where it ranks as the second most common cancer among women, causing about 8,000 deaths annually from an estimated 12,000 new cases each year.
According to her, persistent infection with high-risk HPV types is responsible for more than 90 per cent of cervical cancer cases. She further said that the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a global strategy in 2020 to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030 through HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment.
“NIMR’s ACCESS-HPV project aligns with this global vision, aiming to accelerate Nigeria’s progress towards achieving the elimination targets. Funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute, the ACCESS-HPV project is collaboration between NIMR and international partners including Washington University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Monash University, Australia.
“The project’s innovative approach combines scientific research with community engagement to develop culturally relevant strategies for promoting HPV vaccination among girls aged nine to 14 and HPV self-collection screening among women aged 30 to 65. Since its inception in January 2023, the project has engaged communities nationwide through designathons, open calls for ideas, and participatory learning sessions. Over 600 submissions were received during a national crowd sourcing campaign for locally driven solutions to improve cervical cancer prevention.
“Sixteen teams representing all geopolitical zones participated in a 72-hour designathon, followed by an innovation boot camp in Lagos. Seven finalist teams piloted their community-based strategies in seven states; Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo, recruiting 350 mother-daughter pairs for free HPV screening and vaccination. The pilot achieved impressive results, with a 99.1 percent uptake of HPV screening and 94.8 per cent vaccination coverage.”
Dr. Wapmuk emphasised that the ACCESS-HPV project reflects NIMR’s commitment to translating research into impactful community interventions. “Cervical cancer is preventable, and through collaborative, community-driven strategies, we can ensure that no woman or girl in Nigeria dies from a disease we have the tools to stop.
“As the trial continues across more states, the ACCESS-HPV project stands as a beacon of innovation and hope in Nigeria’s public health landscape proving that with research, community engagement, and partnership, the dream of eliminating cervical cancer is within reach,” she stated.
