By: Kabir Getso
Nigeria has once again reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to eradicating cervical cancer with the launch of the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (pECCiN) in Abuja. This milestone marks a significant step in the nation’s intensified efforts to combat the deadly disease.
The initiative is spearheaded by the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination, bringing together national and international stakeholders in a united front against cervical cancer. The launch event was held under the leadership of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, a tireless advocate for women’s health.
The landmark occasion featured inspiring addresses from key figures including the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako.
The Local Organizing Committee was chaired by Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, President-Elect of the Union for International Cancer Control and Vice Chair of the National Taskforce.
Dr. Bagudu emphasized that the partnership is designed to accelerate action, accountability, and impact, aligning closely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to Dr. Bagudu, the initiative has already recorded significant progress, including the vaccination of 13 million girls by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and a major financial boost of $700 million donated by the First Lady to support the task force. She called for more innovative funding mechanisms to facilitate screening and early detection, warning that cancer control cannot be left solely to government, especially amid global health funding uncertainties caused by the withdrawal of U.S. support for life-saving interventions through agencies such as GAVI and UNITAID.
The event also featured a touching documentary on cervical cancer and live testimonies from young girls who received the HPV vaccine during the national launch in November 2023.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, represented by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, also pledged collective commitment to tackling cervical cancer, including allocating domestic funds for prevention and treatment programs.
In her remarks, Senator Tinubu called on state governors, business leaders, and development partners to contribute generously to the fight, stressing that accurate information dissemination is crucial to overcoming stigma and misinformation about cervical cancer.
The pECCiN initiative includes partnerships with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, World Health Organization, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, and other global organizations to ensure coordinated action and resource mobilization.
With this bold partnership, Nigeria is poised to achieve the elimination of cervical cancer by 2030, setting a model for other countries to follow.
