Nigeria Vaccinates 18 Million Girls Against HPV for Cancer Prevention

The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully vaccinated more than 18 million adolescent girls against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), achieving approximately 76% of its target population. This milestone was announced by Dr. Rufai Ahmed Garba, the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), during a strategic policy roundtable organized by MSD and Africa Health Business (AHB).

The HPV vaccine was integrated into Nigeria's national programme in October 2023 and is provided free of charge to nine-year-old girls at public health facilities. Dr. Garba highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to cervical cancer, which includes not only vaccination but also screening, early diagnosis, and treatment, as Nigeria reports around 12,000 new cases and nearly 8,000 deaths annually due to the disease.

To improve access, the NPHCDA is implementing school-based vaccination and outreach campaigns, addressing the challenge of getting healthy children into health facilities for preventive care.