30th September, 2026 | News

Nigeria Vaccinates Over 18 Million Girls Against Cervical Cancer Since 2023

Stakeholders have called for stronger public-private collaboration to accelerate cervical cancer prevention and expand access to screening and treatment in Nigeria, as the Federal Government says more than 18 million girls have received HPV vaccination since the national programme began in 2023.

The call was made at a high-level policy roundtable organised by MSD (Merck & Co.) in partnership with Africa Health Business (AHB) in Abuja.

The meeting, themed “Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination in Nigeria: Uniting Public and Private Sectors for Equitable Access,” brought stakeholders together to discuss ways of strengthening cervical cancer prevention and care across the country.

Discussions focused on improving institutional coordination, expanding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and developing innovative financing mechanisms to support cervical cancer elimination.

MSD said greater private-sector participation would be important in sustaining progress in prevention, screening, treatment and financing.

Nigeria Vaccinates Over 18 Million Girls Against HPV

Speaking after the meeting, the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Rufai Ahmed Garba, said Nigeria had vaccinated more than 18 million girls aged nine to 14 as of September 2026.

Garba said the figure represented approximately 76 per cent of the national target.

According to him, the HPV vaccine has now been incorporated into Nigeria’s routine immunisation programme.

“The vaccine is now part of routine immunisation, free in public facilities for 9-year-olds, and available in private clinics for older age groups,” he said.

The national HPV vaccination programme was launched in October 2023, with the country’s campaign becoming one of the largest single-country HPV vaccination efforts globally, according to stakeholders at the meeting.

Nigeria Records About 12,000 Cervical Cancer Cases Annually

Garba said cervical cancer remains a major public health concern in Nigeria, with approximately 12,000 new cases and nearly 8,000 deaths recorded annually.

He also raised concerns about the emergence of cervical cancer cases among younger women.

Garba cited two cases involving women aged 23 and 26 who were diagnosed with stage-three cancer at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.

He identified poor adolescent health-seeking behaviour as one of the major gaps in prevention efforts, noting that girls rarely visit health facilities when they are healthy.

He said this had made school and university-based awareness and health campaigns particularly important.

Stakeholders Seek Greater Private Sector Support

MSD External Affairs Director for sub-Saharan Africa, Vuyo Mjekula, said Nigeria had made meaningful progress despite the significant burden of cervical cancer.

“Despite the significant burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria, the country continues to make meaningful progress towards elimination,” Mjekula said.

She added that the next phase should focus on strengthening cooperation among government agencies, private-sector organisations, healthcare providers, civil society groups and patient advocates.

According to Mjekula, increased private-sector participation could complement government initiatives and help expand prevention services to eligible populations beyond those currently covered by the national programme.

She said MSD would continue supporting cervical cancer elimination efforts through vaccine access for young adolescents and public enlightenment.

Government Expands Cancer Screening and Treatment

The Director of Cancer Prevention and Control at the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Dr Usman Waziri, identified low awareness, late presentation, affordability and limited access to quality healthcare as major barriers to timely cancer diagnosis.

Waziri said the government had established six cancer centres across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones and was working to add six more under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He also said NICRAT was piloting NISCAN, a hub-and-spoke early-detection initiative currently operating in the Federal Capital Territory, with referrals to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi.

According to Waziri, government-led cervical cancer screening was launched in Imo State in April and is expected to expand to Niger State and other parts of the country.

He added that the Cancer Health Fund, which supports indigent patients, was being digitised to improve access to cancer care.

Cervical Cancer Elimination Remains a National Priority

Stakeholders said Nigeria’s progress in HPV vaccination provides an opportunity to strengthen other areas of cervical cancer prevention, including screening, early diagnosis and treatment.

Cervical cancer is among the top three cancers covered by the Cancer Health Fund, while Nigeria’s national strategy aligns with the World Health Organization’s 90-70-90 targets for cervical cancer elimination.

Stakeholders at the Abuja meeting stressed that sustained cooperation between the public and private sectors would be important to expanding equitable access to prevention and treatment services across Nigeria.