First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Launches National Campaign to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria by 2030

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria, has sounded the alarm over the rising threat of cervical cancer among Nigerian women, calling it preventable, yet deadly.

In response, she unveiled a bold new initiative: the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCIN), aligning with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2030 global goal to eradicate cervical cancer as a public health issue.

“Cervical cancer is avoidable and should never be a death sentence for any woman,” she declared.

Globally, cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most common cancer among women, and in Nigeria, it is second only to breast cancer. Most affected are women in vulnerable communities, underscoring the urgent need for accessible prevention, screening, and treatment.

The First Lady stressed that the disease is entirely preventable, especially with tools like the HPV vaccine, regular Pap smear screenings, and early treatment interventions.

Senator Tinubu celebrated Nigeria’s remarkable progress in 2024 when the country introduced the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine nationwide, successfully immunizing over 12 million girls in less than a year.

This landmark effort was made possible through strong collaborations with:

• Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

• WHO and UNICEF

• The Gates Foundation

• Nigeria’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

• National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA)

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

The new PECCIN initiative will focus on:

• Raising awareness about cervical cancer prevention

• Mobilizing resources and partnerships across all sectors

• Expanding access to screening and early treatment services

The campaign also aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Health, which prioritizes women's health and strengthens Nigeria’s public health systems.

“With continued support from the Federal Government, our partners, and health workers, we are confident Nigeria will meet the WHO’s 90-70-90 targets,” the First Lady said.

The 90-70-90 strategy aims for:

• 90% of girls fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by age 15

• 70% of women screened by age 35 and again by 45

• 90% of women with cervical disease receiving treatment