First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Launches National Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Launches National Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer

...Says No Woman Should Die from a Preventable Disease

In a significant step toward improving women’s health in Nigeria, the First Lady of the Federal Republic, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has unveiled a national campaign tagged the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCIN). The initiative aims to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s target to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat by 2030.

Speaking at the campaign launch on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the First Lady stressed the urgency of collective action to combat the disease, which is the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria after breast cancer.

“Together, we must invest in a future where no woman dies from a disease that is preventable,” Senator Tinubu declared. “Cervical cancer is a silent killer that strikes hardest at our most vulnerable. But it is also preventable.”

She highlighted the alignment of the campaign with the Renewed Hope Agenda on Health of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes the well-being of all Nigerians, especially women.

The First Lady noted that Nigeria had recorded a major milestone in 2024 with the nationwide rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, reaching over 12 million girls within just nine months. She praised the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and international partners including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, and UNICEF for their roles in this achievement.

While commending progress, she urged stakeholders—including state and local governments, healthcare professionals, educators, religious and traditional leaders—to prioritize women’s health and actively support HPV vaccination and cancer screening.

“Eliminating cervical cancer requires collaborative action. Funding and resources are critical. But equally important is our shared responsibility to educate and protect our women and girls,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, described the campaign as a crucial turning point in Nigeria’s fight against cervical cancer. He revealed that 40 million girls had been vaccinated against HPV in recent months, a step he believes will significantly reduce the disease’s prevalence.

Dr. Salako lauded the First Lady for her commitment, particularly through her pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), which recently donated N1 billion toward cancer prevention and control.

He also acknowledged the work of the National Taskforce for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, chaired by former Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, for driving policy, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement across sectors.

“To support diagnosis and treatment, the Federal Government has reconstituted its Nuclear Medicine Technical Working Group,” he noted. “We are also sustaining the Cancer Health Fund to ease the financial burden of treatment for patients.”

Speakers at the launch applauded the First Lady’s leadership and the government’s commitment to awareness, early detection, and treatment services.

Highlighting the human impact, cervical cancer survivors shared powerful testimonies of resilience and recovery. They encouraged other women to undergo screening and seek treatment early, emphasizing that the disease is both preventable and treatable. Students who had received the HPV vaccine also spoke out, urging their peers to get vaccinated.

The campaign is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s journey toward achieving WHO’s 90-70-90 targets: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15, 70% of women screened by age 35 and again by 45, and 90% of women with pre-cancer or cancer receiving appropriate treatment.

Signed:
Busola Kukoyi
SSA Media to the First Lady of Nigeria
Tuesday, 3rd June 2025