The Federal Government has launched a robust campaign to eliminate cervical cancer, with a target to screen at least 50 percent of eligible women once in their lifetime and ensure 100 percent treatment of detected precancerous lesions by 2027.
To spearhead this initiative, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, has established a 15-member National Task Force Committee for Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE). This committee will be led by former Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole, who will serve as Chairman, with Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu as Vice Chairman, and Professor Sani Malami as Secretary.
The committee’s membership includes prominent figures such as Usman Waziri Mohammed, Yinka Olaniyan, Professor Okechukwu Ikpeze, Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, Lolade Adeyemi, Professor Mukhtar Gadanya, Professor Imran-Morhasson-Bello, Rakiya Saidu, Nwamaka Lasebikan, Professor Ima-Obong Ekanem, Chief (Mrs.) Moji Makanjuola, and Garba Bakunawa.
Minister Alausa highlighted that the Task Force is charged with providing expert guidance, mobilizing resources, and leading a coordinated national effort to dramatically reduce the impact of cervical cancer across Nigeria. He underscored that forming this committee is a vital step towards realizing the ambitious objectives set forth in the National Strategic Plan for Control of Cervical Cancer 2023-2027.
The committee’s terms of reference (TOR) include mobilizing key stakeholders and securing their commitment to the nationwide campaign for cervical cancer screening and treatment. This includes creating a ‘basket fund’ to manage and allocate resources, including government allocations, private sector contributions, philanthropic donations, and support from development partners and NGOs.
Additionally, the committee will establish screening protocols and algorithms utilizing HPV testing or other high-performance methods, as well as develop clear referral pathways for women with positive test results. The TOR also outlines the need to train public and private healthcare providers in cervical cancer screening and treatment across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones, and to collaborate with relevant national and sub-national agencies to ensure the necessary infrastructure for sampling, testing, and treatment is in place.
The committee is also responsible for executing communication strategies to raise awareness among women and communities about cervical cancer and for establishing partnerships with community leaders and influencers to promote screening and treatment uptake.
Furthermore, Minister Alausa stated that the Task Force is expected to submit quarterly progress reports, including challenges and achievements, through the Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Professor Usman Aliyu.
