Nigeria Adopts Global Strategy To Eliminate Cervical Cancer, Kicks Off Nationwide Screening Programme in Owerri.
By Core Reporters
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako said Nigeria has set up measures to achieve the three ambitious targets of World Health Organization’s Global Strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer, endorsed in 2020, aimed at eliminating the disease in Nigeria by 2030.
He disclosed this on Wednesday 29th, April, 2026in his Keynote address at the flag-off of cervical cancer screening programme for the Southeast zone, in Owerri, in collaboration with the Partnership for Cervical Cancer Elimination in Nigeria (PECCIN) and the Imo State government.
Dr. Salako revealed that the strategy set a clear global roadmap anchored on three ambitious targets: that by 2030, 90 percent of girls should be fully vaccinated against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) by age fifteen; 70 percent of women should be screened using a high-performance test by ages 35 and 45; and 90 percent of women identified with cervical disease should receive appropriate treatment and care.
The health minister described the inauguration of the screening program and the investments being made, as a clear testimony that Nigeria is formally committed to this global strategy as part of a sustained, structured national response.
Appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON for her personal donation of One billion Naira to the National Cervical Cancer Taskforce, Salako noted “Your Excellencies, disringuish ladies and gentlemen, this cervical cancer screening programme and the broader cancer control agenda of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reflects the strategic emphasis of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal government on prevention as the best and most cost effective approach to control diseases of public health significance including cancers in our country.”
He stated that federal government in recognizing cancer as a national health priority, in 2023, established the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), a dedicated institutional framework to anchor cancer research, policy, and treatment at the highest scientific level, commending the DG, NICRAT, Professor Usman Malami Aliyu and his team for the ongoing efforts to lay a solid foundation for the agency.
Another landmark, according to the Minister is the establishment of the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination in October, 2024 adding that the task force in collaboration with NICRAT, launched the National Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Screening in Nigeria in 2025 to provide a harmonised, evidence-based, and context-specific operational blueprint that standardises screening practice across our diverse healthcare landscape, targeting to vaccinate eight million adolescent girls and screen eight million women annually.
He announced that the first phase of implementation in Imo State will focus on delivering cervical cancer screening services using high-performance, evidence-based methods to eligible women across selected health facilities and communities. He noted that it will strengthen local capacity for service delivery coordination, data collection and management, community engagement, and referral systems, emphasizing that it is not as a one-time intervention, but as the foundation of a permanent, scalable cervical cancer screening infrastructure in Imo State.
Further more, he said government has developed and launched the National Strategic Cancer Control Plan (NSCCP) 2026 to 2030, a comprehensive, time-bound framework that identifies specific targets, resource requirements, and implementation structures for cancer control across the country, adding that since October 2023 the single-dose Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been introduced into national routine immunization programme.
“Nigeria thus became the first country in the African region to undertake such a large-scale simultaneous rollout in under 3 years, we have vaccinated over 15 million girls against HPV, more than tripling the number of adolescent girls protected against cervical cancer in Africa. This is an achievement which Nigeria and all of us advocates of cervical cancer prevention should be immensely proud of.”
He acknowledged the government of Imo State under the leadership of Senator Hope Ozodimma, and his wife, Barrister Chioma Ozodimma, Imo State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Chioma Egu, national and international development partners, traditional and religious leaders in Imo state for their unwavering support towards achieving cancer elimination, amongst women not only in Imo State but Nigeria at large.
In his inaugural speech, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator, Hope Uzodimma, stressed the significant of health in development of a nation, thereby urged traditional and religious leaders, market women and civil societies in the state to embark on massive campaign with a view to sensitizing women to present themselves for the screening programme on this preventable disease
He expressed appreciation for the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, for providing an enabling environment, the Federal Ministry of Health and global development partners for their unwavering support to the health sector. He especially thanked the First Lady, Her Excellency,Senator Oluremi Tinubu for donating one billion Naira as pioneering support for the program and promised his continued unflinching support to the cancer elimination programme.
In her remarks, the wife of the Imo State Governor, Barrister Chioma Uzodimma, expressed optimism that the program will expand access to quality cervical cancer screening, promote early detection and awareness, strengthen referral pathways for diagnosis and treatment, and build lasting local capacity within our health system.
She noted that Women across selected facilities and communities in Imo State will benefit directly from the first phase of implementation, as a firm foundation is laid for broader reach and sustained impact.
Barrister Chioma said as chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer, assured of bringing together spouses of current and former state governors, working to close the gaps in cancer care by driving awareness, expanding access to screening and treatment, and championing policies that ensure equitable quality care for every Nigerian woman, irrespective of where she lives.
Professor Usman Malami Aliyu, the Director-General, National Institute of Cancer Research and Treatment described the event as a significant landmark, pointing out that cervical cancer continues to impose a significant toll on women in Nigeria despite being both preventable and highly treatable when detected early.
He assured that the Institute remains resolute in its mandate to provide strategic leadership, technical coordination and evidence-driven direction for cancer control in Nigeria. In fulfillment of this, he noted the commencement of an ambitious yet necessary target to screen at least 10,000 women across Imo state while simultaneously strengthening the state’s capacity to scale and institutionalize routine cervical cancer screening services.
Professor Malami further explained that by design the program goes beyond a one-off intervention to a strategic collaboration between the Institute and the sub-national stakeholders, stressing that it is intended to establish a sustainable and resilient system in which early detection becomes standard practice rather than the exception, which requires strong and coordinated partnership . He cited the partnership for cervical cancer elimination program in Nigeria as a clear demonstration of what is possible when strategic intent is matched with effective collaboration and discipline implementation.
The Director General expressed profound gratitude to His Excellency President Bula Ahmed, whose renewed health agenda has created the political will and policy framework that makes broad public health intervention such as this possible.
Earlier in his remarks, the chairman National Taskforce For Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, Professor Isaac F. Adewale disclosed that the first rollout exercise will screen sixty thousand Nigerians in six states including: Imo, Niger, Ogun, Bauchi, Rivers and Sokoto and thereafter it evolve into subnationals and local governments areas, subsequently enable PHCs to conduct HVP screening for women.
Presenting overview of the Partnership Elimination For Cervical Cancer In Nigeria, the Chairman National Implementation Committee, Professor, Ikechukwu C. Ikpeze, said that the flag of exercise will be conducted in selected pilot states- one in each zone geo-political zone, explaining it reflects months of rigorous planning, collaboration, technical engagement and national commitment.
Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu in her goodwill message urged traditional and religious leaders as well as other stakeholders not to relent in their efforts, emphasizing that elimination of cancer requires political will and financial support.
