ROBERT TABOADA
Humanity and cancer have travelled a long road together. Largely, it has been a one-sided story, with cancer among men, women and children indiscriminately causing premature mortality in every population group globally.
In Nigeria, the impact of women’s cancers is particularly far-reaching for families, our economy and society more broadly. But we finally have an opportunity to take the upper hand. Specifically, Nigeria is entering a decisive phase in its response to cervical cancer.
Nigeria’s government has blazed a trail, embracing renewed political commitment, updated national guidance and accelerated implementation plans. As a result, we are on the cusp of demonstrating how global health targets can be translated into practical, country-owned action.
Why focus on cervical cancer?
For many Nigerian families, cervical cancer is not an abstract statistic. It is a diagnosis that arrives late, disrupts livelihoods and places immense strain on households already navigating complex health and economic realities.
Caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. HPV, it should be noted, is commonly transmitted through skin-to-skin or intimate contact. Vaccines against HPV are available, and screening, followed by treatment of pre-cancerous lesions, if necessary, are highly effective ways to prevent cervical cancer.
Perhaps one of the most significant challenges Nigeria, and many other countries, face is silence. Lack of awareness, societal limitations and even personal embarrassment are among the reasons Nigerian women may choose not to get screened for HPV.
In this context, cervical cancer remains a serious public health challenge, with an estimated 13,700 new cases and more than 7,000 deaths recorded each year¹.
Nigeria’s road to elimination
For the first time, Nigeria’s top decision-makers have recognised that, when policy, access and delivery vehicles to patients align, health systems open the scientific pathway to elimination. In 2026, Nigeria will officially align its national response with the World Health Organization’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, anchored in the 90–70–90* targets to be achieved by 2030.
* To eliminate cervical cancer, all countries must reach and maintain an incidence rate of below 4 per 100 000 women. Achieving that goal rests on three key pillars and their corresponding targets:
• vaccination: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15;
• screening: 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by the age of 35, and again by the age of 45;
• treatment: 90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed.
Each country should meet the 90–70–90 targets by 2030 to get on the path to eliminate cervical cancer within the next century.
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