The National Taskforce for Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE) has urged the government to provide universal access to free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing to tackle the growing cervical cancer crisis in Nigeria. Prof. Isaac Adewole, former Health Minister and NTF-CCE Chairman, spoke at the 2025 International Cancer Week in Abuja, highlighting that over 15 million Nigerian girls have already been vaccinated against HPV.
Adewole called for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to fund HPV DNA testing nationwide, replacing outdated Pap smear methods, emphasizing early detection as key to improving survival rates.
NHIA Chairman Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe stressed regular cervical cancer screening should be a priority to prevent needless deaths, urging women to get screened twice a year. International expert Prof. Anuja Jinghran highlighted that cervical cancer is preventable yet remains a top threat globally.
Nigeria Cancer Society President Prof. Abidemi Omonisi warned current strategies are failing, calling for a national cancer summit to rethink cancer control efforts.
The conference, led by NICRAT’s Prof. Usman Malami-Aliyu, united global experts and stakeholders focused on research, innovation, and partnership to tackle Nigeria’s rising cancer burden.
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