Nigeria's Health Minister Reports 7,093 Cervical Cancer Deaths

At a meeting in Abuja, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, announced that Nigeria recorded 7,093 cervical cancer deaths and 13,676 new cases in 2022, based on GLOBOCAN estimates. The National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination, established in August 2024, aims to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health issue by 2030.

Salako stressed the importance of expanding nationwide screening, integrating it with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, and ensuring early diagnosis and treatment. He highlighted milestones achieved by the taskforce, including the development of national screening guidelines and the rollout of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme in Imo State.

Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, noted that the taskforce secured resource commitments of N1.5 billion and activated Imo State for organized HPV-DNA screening. The review meeting aimed to consolidate progress and enhance the taskforce's capacity to implement the national elimination agenda.