Nigeria has introduced the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunization system, targeting 7.7 million girls for HPV vaccination.
Nigerian girls aged 9–14 years will receive a single dose of the vaccine, which is highly efficacious in preventing infection with HPV types 16 and 18 that are known to cause at least 70 percent of cervical cancers.
Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths among women aged between 15 and 44 years in Nigeria.
According to a report from 2020, the country recorded 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths from cervical cancer.
The Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said that “the loss of about 8,000 Nigerian women yearly from a disease that is preventable is completely unacceptable”.
He added that “cervical cancer is mostly caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and parents can avoid physical and financial pain by protecting their children with a single dose of the vaccine”.
The onset of the vaccination campaign is an opportunity to safeguard Nigerian girls from the scourge of cervical cancers many years into the future.
A five-day mass vaccination campaign in schools and communities will be carried out during the inaugural rollout in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The vaccine will then be incorporated into routine immunization schedules within health facilities. The second phase of the vaccination introduction is set to start in May 2024 in 21 states.
The vaccine is being provided for free by the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners.
With support from the WHO country office in Nigeria and other partners, over 35,000 health workers have so far been trained in preparation for the campaign and subsequent vaccine delivery in all health facilities. Vaccination sites have been established in all 4163 wards across the 16 states included in the phase one rollout to ensure no eligible girl is left behind.
