Nigeria Introduces HPV Vaccine to Combat Cervical Cancer
This initiative aims to reach 7.7 million girls, the largest number in a single round of HPV vaccination in the African region.
Abuja, Nigeria - Nigeria has taken a significant step in the fight against cervical cancer by introducing the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunization system, writes Winston Mwale.
This initiative aims to reach 7.7 million girls, the largest number in a single round of HPV vaccination in the African region.
The HPV vaccine program targets girls aged 9–14 years and will provide them with a single dose of the vaccine, which has demonstrated high efficacy in preventing HPV types 16 and 18, responsible for at least 70% of cervical cancer cases.
Cervical cancer is a substantial health concern in Nigeria, ranking as the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women aged 15 to 44. In 2020, the country reported 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer, resulting in 8,000 deaths.
Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, expressed the urgency of this vaccination campaign, emphasizing that approximately 8,000 Nigerian women lose their lives to a preventable disease every year.
He called on parents to protect their children by ensuring they receive the HPV vaccine, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Health Agenda.
The vaccination campaign will span five days and encompass schools and communities across 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Following the initial rollout, the vaccine will be incorporated into routine immunization schedules at healthcare facilities. The second phase of the vaccination introduction is scheduled to begin in May 2024, covering 21 states.
The Federal Ministry of Health is providing the HPV vaccine at no cost, with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners.
Over 35,000 health workers have been trained for the campaign, and vaccination sites have been established in all 4,163 wards across the 16 states included in the first phase.
Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Representative in Nigeria, emphasized that this initiative is pivotal for lowering the burden of cervical cancer, a disease that can potentially be eliminated through vaccination.
Gavi's investment of over US$600 million by the end of 2025, in collaboration with its partners, is set to reach over 86 million girls by 2025, aiming to avert over 1.4 million future deaths from cervical cancer.
This introduction of the HPV vaccine in Nigeria has the potential to protect over 16 million girls in the country alone by 2025, marking a significant stride in the battle against cervical cancer.
UNICEF, along with its partners, has been actively involved in procuring vaccines, generating informational materials, and providing logistical support for vaccination campaigns.
Together, these efforts are safeguarding the well-being and future of young women in Nigeria.