Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has officially launched the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCIN), a landmark initiative aimed at achieving the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) target of eliminating cervical cancer by the year 2030.
Speaking during the unveiling, Senator Tinubu emphasised the urgency and importance of the campaign, describing cervical cancer as a devastating yet preventable disease that continues to threaten the lives of women across Nigeria.
“Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, and in Nigeria, it ranks just behind breast cancer. It is a silent killer that disproportionately affects our most vulnerable women. But the encouraging truth is that this is a cancer we can prevent,” she said.
Senator Tinubu noted that the campaign aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on health, which prioritises improving the well-being of Nigerians, especially women and girls.
She highlighted Nigeria’s recent progress in the fight against cervical cancer, particularly the successful national rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
“In 2024, Nigeria achieved a historic milestone by launching the national HPV vaccination programme, reaching over 12 million girls in just nine months. This tremendous achievement was made possible through the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the steadfast support of our international partners, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Gates Foundation, WHO, and UNICEF,” she said.
Calling for collective effort, the First Lady urged all stakeholders to join forces in eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat.
“Eliminating cervical cancer demands unified, sustained action. State and local governments, healthcare workers, schools, religious and traditional leaders, all must play their part. We must champion immunisation, encourage early detection, and promote scientific truths. This mission will require strong commitment, strategic partnerships, and significant resources,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, described PECCIN as a transformative step in addressing one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Nigerian women.
He pointed to late diagnosis, widespread ignorance, and insufficient healthcare infrastructure as major barriers to timely treatment and survival.
However, he noted recent strides in immunisation, stating that around 40 million girls have now been vaccinated against the HPV virus.
Dr. Salako commended Senator Tinubu for her unwavering advocacy for public health and cancer prevention, especially through her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), which has donated ₦1 billion to support cancer control efforts nationwide.
The PECCIN campaign is expected to scale up public awareness, vaccination, screening, and treatment efforts, aiming to drastically reduce cervical cancer rates and safeguard the health of Nigerian women for generations to come.
