Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched a new initiative aimed at eliminating cervical cancer in the country by 2030. The campaign, Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCIN), aligns with the World Health Organisation's global elimination target.
Speaking at the launch event, Senator Tinubu emphasized that cervical cancer is preventable, stating that "no woman has to die by cervical cancer when it is preventable." She described the disease as the fourth most common cancer among women globally and the second most common in Nigeria after breast cancer.
"It is a silent killer, and one that strikes hardest at the most vulnerable women. Yet, this is a cancer that is preventable," the First Lady remarked.
Alignment with Government Health Agenda
The First Lady noted that the PECCIN initiative complements President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda on Health, which aims to promote the health and well-being of Nigerians, with a particular focus on eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat for women across the nation.
"Nigeria has shown that it is possible to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030," she affirmed.
Progress in Cervical Cancer Prevention
Senator Tinubu highlighted a significant milestone achieved in 2024 when Nigeria launched the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine nationally, protecting over 12 million girls in just nine months. This breakthrough was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and support from global partners including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Gates Foundation, WHO, and UNICEF.
The First Lady also mentioned that the Federal Government continues to allocate resources to sustain the Cancer Health Fund, aimed at reducing the financial burden of cancer treatment on affected individuals.
Partnership Goals and WHO Targets
According to Senator Tinubu, the partnership will focus on mobilizing resources, raising awareness, and providing access to screening and treatment services for cervical cancer across the country.
She expressed optimism that with support from the Federal Government, commitment from partners, and dedication from healthcare professionals, Nigeria can achieve the WHO's 90-70-90 targets and make cervical cancer a rare disease in the country.
The WHO's 90-70-90 targets aim for 90% of girls to be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15, 70% of women to be screened with a high-performance test by age 35 and again by age 45, and 90% of women with pre-cancer to receive treatment and 90% of women with invasive cancer to have their condition managed.
