The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has announced a significant milestone in Nigeria’s fight against cervical cancer, revealing that over 14 million Nigerian girls have received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as part of the ongoing national campaign.
The achievement marks a major step forward in the country’s efforts to eliminate cervical cancer and safeguard adolescent health.
Director of disease control and immunisation at NPHCDA, Dr Ahmed Garba announced on Wednesday during a high-level panel session titled “Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination in Nigeria: From Policy to Practice.”
Speaking at the stakeholder engagement, Garba reflected on the rollout’s complexities, successes, and areas for improvement. He highlighted the critical importance of community-level engagement, digital integration and adaptive strategies in reaching underserved populations.
“We have realised that success depends on doing things differently and learning from past challenges,” he said, citing the value of artificial intelligence tools, such as GPT models, in refining logistics, planning, and messaging strategies.
He acknowledged that while reaching over 14 million girls is commendable, challenges persist—particularly in remote and socio-culturally sensitive regions like the southeast, where logistics and vaccine hesitancy have hindered broader coverage.
“It was a tough one, but we learnt. Protecting 14 million girls is something Nigeria should be proud of,” Garba said.
However, he stressed that for many girls—especially those from low-income households—barriers remain. These include limited awareness, socio-economic constraints and weak health infrastructure.
“There is no vaccine if there is no access,” he said, calling for stronger collaboration with health insurance providers, broader public awareness campaigns and expanded access to cervical screening services.
Garba advocated for integrating HPV vaccination into all health initiatives, policy platforms, and communication efforts. “Whether it’s a business or media campaign, HPV must be part of the conversation,” he said, appealing for sustained partnerships from development partners and private stakeholders alike.
Also speaking at the panel was CEO of the African Business Coalition for Health (ABC Health), Dr. Morires Atiko who underscored the importance of inclusive and gender-balanced stakeholder engagement in driving cervical cancer elimination.
“This is a gender-centric disease, yet we often see low female representation at decision-making tables. More women need to step up, speak out, and lead this fight,” Atiko said.
She stressed the need to simplify public messaging on HPV to attract more interest from non-health private sector players such as the telecom, oil and gas and manufacturing industries.
“For the private sector to invest, the social case must be clear. We did it during COVID-19. We can do it again,” she said, calling for relatable, urgency-driven advocacy that speaks to a broader corporate audience.
Atiko also flagged significant information gaps about HPV transmission, prevention and its impact beyond the 9 to 14-year-old demographic. “We must be honest: HPV is often carried by men. Educating girls is critical, but men must be part of the narrative too,” she said.
She urged for a multi-pronged approach that includes better research, inclusive policy, and gender-sensitive messaging to address prevention in sexually active women and older populations.
On the clinical side, Prof. Imran Morhason-Bello, a renowned gynaecologic oncologist from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, provided deeper insight into HPV’s virology and disease progression.
“HPV is a necessary cause of cervical cancer, but not all women infected with the virus will develop the disease,” he said, explaining that 80 to 90 per cent of HPV infections are cleared naturally by the body’s immune system.
“The real challenge is identifying the 10 to 15 per cent of women in whom the virus persists. That’s where regular screening and genotyping play a crucial role,” Morhason-Bello added.
He further advocated for intensified public risk communication, increased investments in vaccine and diagnostic research and more accurate information on the vaccine’s effectiveness in older women.
“The future of cervical cancer control lies in combining early vaccination, widespread screening and informed advocacy,” he said.
Science Nigeria reports that the session concluded with a unified call to action: integrate cervical cancer screening into primary health care systems, expand access to self-sampling technologies, and correct lingering misconceptions about HPV vaccines.
With Nigeria leading the continent in HPV vaccine rollout, the message from the panel was resounding: eliminate cervical cancer through collective action, gender equity, and sustained investment.
“Let’s do big and let’s do it together,” one speaker declared, capturing the spirit of urgency and collaboration that defined the session.
