First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu begins new initiative to Eliminate Cervical cancer by 2030
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has voiced strong concern over the widespread issue of cancer affecting women in the country, emphasizing that no woman should succumb to preventable cervical cancer.
In response, she has launched a new initiative, the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCIN), aligning with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) elimination target for 2030. She believes this campaign will effectively end the threat of cervical cancer for women of all ages nationwide.
She described cervical cancer as “the fourth most common cancer among women globally.” According to the Wife of the President, “in Nigeria, it is the second most common cancer after breast cancer and it is a silent killer, and one that strikes hardest at the most vulnerable women. Yet, this is a cancer that is preventable.”
She expressed gratitude that the partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Health, aimed at promoting the health and well-being of Nigerians, particularly eradicating cervical cancer as a public health threat for women across the nation.
“Nigeria has shown that it is possible to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030,” she stated.
Recalling past achievements, she revealed that “in the year 2024, Nigeria made a breakthrough by launching the Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) nationally, protecting over 12-million girls in just 9-months.” She attributed these successes to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, with support from global partners such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Gates Foundation, WHO, and UNICEF.
The First Lady insisted that under her husband’s administration, to reduce the financial burden of cancer treatment, the Federal Government has continued to appropriate resources to sustain the Cancer Health Fund. She expressed optimism that with the Federal Government’s support, partners’ commitment, and healthcare professionals’ dedication, Nigeria can achieve the WHO’s 90-70-90 targets and make cervical cancer a rare disease in the country.
Her words, “The partnership will work to mobilize resources, raise awareness, and provide access to screening and treatment services for cervical cancer.”
