By Adenike Lawal
To protect the health of Nigerian women, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has officially launched the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCIN); a nationwide initiative aimed at eradicating cervical cancer as a public health threat by 2030.
The launch aligns Nigeria with the World Health Organization’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer and reflects the current administration’s commitment to prioritizing women’s health under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Describing cervical cancer as a “preventable but deadly disease,” Senator Tinubu emphasized the urgency of action. “No woman should have to die from cervical cancer. We have the knowledge, the tools, and now the political will to end this tragedy,” she said.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Nigerian women after breast cancer, yet experts say it is largely preventable through timely vaccination, routine screening, and prompt treatment.
PECCIN is designed to enhance awareness, widen access to screening, and ensure early detection and intervention across the country.
A major milestone underscoring Nigeria’s progress is the nationwide rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), vaccine, which reached over 12 million girls in just nine months.
Senator Tinubu credited this achievement to a coordinated national effort involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and global health partners including Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
“These efforts have shown that eliminating cervical cancer in Nigeria is not just an aspiration; it’s an achievable goal,” she declared.
The First Lady also reaffirmed the federal government’s continued support for the Cancer Health Fund, which is helping to ease the financial burden of treatment for many families.
She expressed optimism that Nigeria is on track to meet WHO’s 90-70-90 targets: vaccinating 90% of girls against HPV, screening 70% of women, and ensuring 90% of those with cervical disease receive appropriate care.
Senator Tinubu called on stakeholders at all levels; healthcare workers, community leaders, and development partners to rally behind the initiative, mobilize resources, and spread awareness.
“This partnership will serve as a driving force to educate communities and deliver lifesaving access to screening and treatment.
“Our goal is to make cervical cancer a rare disease in Nigeria within the next five years,” she concluded.
Through PECCIN, Nigeria joins the global movement to eliminate cervical cancer, signaling a new era in women’s health and national development.
