FG Targets Cervical Cancer Elimination by 2030

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030, unveiling an expanded strategy centred on nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, wider screening, improved treatment services and increased domestic funding to tackle one of Nigeria’s leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women.

The pledge was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare following an international webinar organised by the Nigerian Academy of Medicine in partnership with the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said cervical cancer elimination has become a central pillar of Nigeria’s national health agenda under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

According to the minister, Nigeria records about 13,676 new cervical cancer cases annually, with many women seeking medical care only after the disease has reached advanced stages.

“The Federal Government has placed cervical cancer elimination at the centre of the national health agenda through an integrated strategy that prioritises prevention, early detection and improved treatment,” Salako said.

He disclosed that Nigeria’s nationwide single-dose HPV vaccination programme, launched in 2023 and subsequently expanded across the country, has already immunised more than 17 million girls aged between nine and 14 years.

Salako said the next phase of the programme will focus on increasing vaccination coverage beyond 80 per cent through schools, community outreach initiatives and targeted campaigns for out-of-school girls.

Salako added that the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination is coordinating nationwide implementation efforts involving government agencies, development partners and professional bodies to accelerate progress towards the 2030 target.

About the Author

Hussaini Ibrahim

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Hussaini Ibrahim is a journalist with Africa Health Report (AHR), covering Northern Nigeria with a focus on public health, the environment, and development. He holds a B.A. (Ed) in English from Northwest University, Kano, and brings several years of professional reporting experience. Passionate about accountability and social justice, he specialises in people-centred stories that expose the impact of policies on communities while amplifying the voices of those often excluded from decision-making. X (Twitter): @Mohamme85500159

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