Owerri, Imo State — The Federal Government has intensified efforts to eliminate cervical cancer in Nigeria with the official flag-off of a large-scale screening programme in Imo State, warning that thousands of preventable deaths continue to occur each year due to limited access to early detection services.
Speaking at the launch under the Partnership for Cervical Cancer Elimination in Nigeria (PECCIN), the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziak Adekunle Salako, described cervical cancer as a “preventable tragedy,” noting that over 7,000 Nigerian women die annually from the disease despite available interventions.
Salako revealed that Nigeria records about 13,676 new cases of cervical cancer yearly, making it the second most common cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. He stressed that most deaths occur due to late detection and inadequate access to screening services.
“This programme is not ceremonial; it is a national commitment to ensure that no woman dies from a preventable disease,” he said.
The initiative aligns with the global targets set by the World Health Organization to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030 through widespread HPV vaccination, routine screening, and timely treatment. Nigeria has adopted ambitious national targets, including vaccinating eight million girls and screening eight million women annually, with a goal of reaching 15 million women by 2027.
Salako highlighted that the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into Nigeria’s routine immunisation programme in 2023 has already led to the vaccination of over 15 million girls, significantly boosting protection against cervical cancer nationwide.
He also pointed to the establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment as a critical step in strengthening cancer control, alongside the rollout of the National Strategic Cancer Control Plan (2026–2030), which provides a framework for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Commending the Imo State Government led by Hope Uzodimma, the minister said the state was selected as the South-East flag-off location due to its demonstrated commitment to women’s health and cancer prevention.
The first phase of the programme will focus on providing high-performance screening services across selected health facilities, while also strengthening referral systems to ensure women who test positive receive prompt care.
Salako called on women to take advantage of the free screening services, urging healthcare workers, community leaders, and development partners to support awareness and service delivery to bridge existing gaps.
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He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritise preventive healthcare, noting that eliminating cervical cancer requires sustained collaboration between government, private sector, and international partners.
“With the right investments and collective action, cervical cancer can become a disease of the past in Nigeria,” he said.
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