The battle against cervical cancer has been elevated with the recent launch of the Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with health sector stakeholders. This initiative features a strategic plan aimed at reaching an elimination target of fewer than four cases of cervical cancer per 100,000 women in Nigeria.
Initially perceived as ambitious, the initiative aims for 90% vaccination coverage of girls aged 9 to 14 with the HPV vaccine, 70% screening of women at ages 35 and 45 using high-performance tests, and 90% treatment for women with pre-invasive and invasive cervical lesions by the end of the century.
Following the Stakeholders’ Summit on Cervical Cancer Elimination in Nigeria, Dr. Ishak Lawal, Executive Director of the End Cervical Cancer Nigeria Initiative (ECCNI), expressed confidence that Nigeria will join the ranks of countries on the path to eliminating cervical cancer. He noted that significant progress can be achieved even without substantial funding if stakeholders in cervical cancer advocacy can align their efforts.
“The stakeholders’ summit on cervical cancer elimination in Nigeria (SSCCEN) was designed to foster collaboration among those involved in cervical cancer advocacy. The summit will serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas that will drive progress toward achieving cervical cancer elimination goals,” he stated.
The SSCCEN aims to facilitate collaboration and idea-sharing, focusing on tracking activities and developing strategies to expedite progress. This year’s summit will also highlight the importance of scaling up best practices through the Cervical Cancer Elimination Service Award (CCESA), which recognizes excellence in cervical cancer advocacy and action.
Additionally, the summit has adopted rewarding excellence as a strategy for promoting best practices, with the CCESA honoring individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to achieving cervical cancer elimination targets in Nigeria. Among the honorees are Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu for her global advocacy efforts and UNICEF Nigeria for its crucial role in organizing Nigeria’s first standalone cervical cancer summit. The former Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, will also be recognized for successfully introducing the HPV vaccine into Nigeria’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation.
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