By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbi
The Federal Government, in collaboration with development partners and stakeholders, will soon launch the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCIN). The initiative aims to accelerate the implementation of the World Health Organization's (WHO) 90-70-90 targets in Nigeria, focusing on vaccinating 90% of girls aged 9-14 against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), screening 70% of eligible women for pre-cancerous lesions, and ensuring 90% of women with cervical disease receive appropriate treatment.
The launch of PECCIN is slated for Tuesday, June 3, 2025, and will be flagged off by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House in Abuja. The Chairman of the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE), Prof. Isaac Adewole, said the objectives of PECCIN are to drive sub-national government-led coordinated expansion of cervical cancer elimination activities and foster multisectoral coordination and collaboration.
According to Prof. Adewole, 60 million women in Nigeria are at risk of developing cervical cancer, and approximately 22 women die daily from this preventable and treatable disease in the country. He emphasized that the initiative is crucial in reducing the burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria.
The NTF-CCE was established in August 2024 to lead Nigeria's national response on cervical cancer. The task force aims to vaccinate 50% of eligible girls and screen 50% of women by 2027, while strengthening health systems to ensure effective treatment for all detected cases. Nigeria has already made significant progress in HPV vaccination, with over 13 million girls vaccinated through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and partners.
In a related development, Nigeria has led a proposal that resulted in the approval of November 17 as the World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day at the recent World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. This aims to promote consciousness and action against cervical cancer globally.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed her commitment to the fight against cervical cancer through a generous donation of N1 billion to the task force from the Renewed Hope Initiative. Her support underscores the importance of leadership and partnership in addressing this critical health issue.
The launch of PECCIN is a testament to the commitment of the Federal Government and stakeholders to eliminating cervical cancer in Nigeria. The initiative brings together key players from the government, development partners, and the private sector to work towards a common goal.
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Healthcare services