Nigeria, Gavi to Launch HPV Vaccine for Cervical Cancer Tuesday

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Federa Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, World Health Organisation and UNICEF would launch the HPV vaccines next  Tuesday in Abuja,

A statement by Gavi said the Alliance and its partners have been working tirelessly to improve access to life-saving vaccines across the globe.

“As one of our key partner countries, Nigeria is on the brink of a significant public health milestone. On 24th October 2023, Nigeria will officially launch the HPV vaccine, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s efforts to combat cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Nigeria,” it stated.

The launch would be followed by a roll-out of the vaccines in some selected States in Nigeria – Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Enugu, FCT, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun and  Taraba

The statement stated that the events would provide a platform for key stakeholders, including government officials, healthcare professionals, and advocates, to emphasise the importance of HPV vaccination and its potential to save lives.

The introduction of the  HPV became necessary following an upsurge in cases of cervical cancer around the globe.

Globally, cervical cancer causes more than 342,000 deaths annually, with 90 per cent of women dying in low- and middle-income countries. The HPV vaccine is the most effective vaccine, with an average success of 92 per cent in preventing cervical cancer, but its accessibility remains limited for millions worldwide.

According to the WHO, cervical cancer is the second  most frequent cancer among women in Nigeria and the second most frequent cancer death among women between 15 and 44 years of age.

It kills about  22 women in Nigeria daily. In 2020,

the Global Cancer Observatory estimated that over 12,000 cervical cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Nigeria.