First Lady seeks synergy against cervical cancer
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday urged development partners, private sector players, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and academic institutions to commit their resources, expertise, and innovation to the national campaign for the elimination of cervical cancer.
Mrs. Tinubu spoke at the official unveiling of the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCiN) at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
The First Lady said the time has come for all stakeholders to take collective action against the disease, which she said is preventable though deadly.
“At this juncture, I call on all development partners, the private sector, NGOs, and academic institutions to commit their resources, expertise, and innovation to this campaign. We count on you all to ensure that this collaboration succeeds,” she said.
Describing the launch of PECCiN as the beginning of a “transformational journey in the health and dignity of Nigerian women and girls,” Mrs. Tinubu stressed that cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria, despite being one of the most preventable.
“Cervical cancer is a silent killer and one that strikes hardest at the most vulnerable women. Yet, this is a preventable cancer,” the First Lady said.
Mrs. Tinubu lauded the alignment of PECCiN with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on health, which seeks to prioritise the well-being of all Nigerians, especially women.
According to her, the initiative underscores the administration’s determination to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat, by 2030.
“Nigeria has shown that it is possible,” The First Lady said, referencing the country’s successful nationwide rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 2023.
“In just nine months, we protected over 12 million girls. That is a landmark achievement,” she added.
The First Lady acknowledged the pivotal roles played by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and global health partners, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, and UNICEF in achieving this milestone.
“But we cannot stop there. We must build on this momentum — expand HPV screening, scale up treatment through innovative, cost-effective technologies, and establish these services where they matter most: in our primary and secondary health care facilities,” she said.
The First Lady noted that “funding and a lot of resources are needed,” announcing that her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), had committed ₦1 billion to support the national campaign.
“I call on our state governors, business leaders, and development partners to join in supporting this laudable initiative. Together, we must invest in a future where no woman dies from a preventable disease,” Mrs. Tinubu added.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), which was represented by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, promised its partnership with the First Lady to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer across the country.
Uzodimma expressed the governors’ readiness to adopt necessary policies at the state level and ensure the allocation of domestic funding for cervical cancer prevention and treatment programmes.
He stressed the importance of strengthening primary healthcare systems to deliver equitable services, especially to women in rural and underserved communities.
The Chairman of the NTF-CCE and former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, promised that PECCiN would drive the coordinated and sub-national government-led expansion of cervical cancer elimination activities and foster multi-sectoral collaboration across public and private sectors.
Vice Chairman of the committee, Zainab Shinkafi-Bagadu, noted that the launch of PECCiN showed a renewed commitment to combating cervical cancer in the country.
