First Lady, Tinubu begins new advocacy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has decried the scourge of cancer among women population in the country, saying no woman has to die by cervical cancer when it is preventable.

She has then unveiled a new campaign, Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria, PECCIN, in conjunction with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) elimination target by 2030.

In her estimation, the campaign would bring to an end the menace of cervical cancer among women of all ages across the country.

She described cervical cancer as the fourth most common cancer among women globally.

According to the Wife of the President, in Nigeria, it is the second most common cancer after breast cancer and it is a silent killer, and one that strikes hardest at the most vulnerable women. Yet, this is a cancer that is preventable”.

She expressed gratitude that the partnership aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda on Health of President Bola Tinubu, to promote the health and well-being of Nigerians, particularly eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat for women across the nation.

“Nigeria has shown that it is possible to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030,” she stated.

Going down memory lane, she revealed that in the year 2024, Nigeria made a breakthrough by launching the Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) nationally, protecting over 12-million girls in just 9-months.

She attributed these success to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, with support from global partners, such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Gates Foundation, WHO, and UNICEF.

The First Lady insisted that under her husband’s administration, to reduce the financial burden of cancer treatment, the Federal Government has continued to appropriate resources to sustain the Cancer Health Fund.

She said she was optimistic that with support of the Federal Government, and commitment from partners, and the dedication of healthcare professionals, Nigeria can achieve the WHO’s 90-70-90 targets and make cervical cancer a rare disease in the country.

Her words, “The partnership will work to mobilize resources, raise awareness, and provide access to screening and treatment services for cervical cancer.”