NIGERIA UNITES TO ELIMINATE CERVICAL CANCER BY 2030: FIRST LADY SEN. OLUREMI TINUBU LAUNCHES NATIONAL TASK FORCE AT PRESIDENTIAL VILLA; H.E. CHIOMA UZODIMMA, WIFE OF IMO GOV, CHAIRS MONITORING SUBCOMMITTEE AND SIGNS COMMITMENTS FOR RHI

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria, after breast cancer, despite being preventable. Eliminating it is a major task that cannot be handled by one group alone. That is why the National Task Force for Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE), under the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCIN), has been launched. The goal is to meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) target of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030. The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, officially launched the campaign on June 3, 2025, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. With health Stakeholders from across the country in attendance, the First Lady emphasized that this campaign aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda and called for strong coalitions at all levels: federal, state, and community. She urged religious and traditional leaders, schools, and healthcare professionals to champion prevention, screening, and vaccination. I am honoured to serve as Chairperson of the Monitoring and Evaluation Subcommittee.

Recounting Nigeria's 2024 progress in introducing the HPV vaccine nationwide, reaching over 12 million girls in 9 months through the Ministry of Health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and partners like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Gates Foundation, World Health Organization Nigeria, and UNICEF Nigeria, the First Lady advised stakeholders not to relent but to form a strong coalition that would reduce the high prevalence among women.

Various speakers, including my husband, His Excellency Dist. Sen. (Dr.) Hope Uzodimma, CON, who represented the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, commended the Nigerian Government and First Lady for their undaunted commitment to scaling up awareness, detection, treatment, and prevention of cervical cancer.

At the event, I signed commitments on behalf of the Renewed Hope Initiative. Additionally, cancer survivors shared their stories, and vaccinated students urged others to protect themselves.

#CervicalCancerAwareness #HPVAwareness

#ChiomaUzodimma

H.E. Chief Barr. (Dr.) Chioma Uzodimma FIMC, CMC
First Lady of Imo State, Founder of GoodHope Women Flourish Initiative,
and Secretary of Renewed Hope Initiative.