Hobnob News – The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health, has officially kicked off its cervical cancer vaccination campaign in Bauchi State.
At Saturday’s flag‑off ceremony, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, highlighted the urgent need for prevention: “Over 12,000 Nigerian women develop cervical cancer each year—yet it is almost entirely preventable with timely HPV vaccination.”
Minister Pate reminded attendees that President Tinubu had inaugurated the nationwide HPV rollout in October 2023. “We’ve already reached 96% of our first‑phase target—one of the highest coverage rates globally,” he noted, adding that efforts to raise awareness among stakeholders in Bauchi are now underway.
Echoing the importance of early intervention, Dr. Usman Malami, Director‑General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, explained, “Cervical cancer’s root cause is well understood, making it one of the few truly preventable cancers. A complete vaccine series confers lifelong protection.”
Bauchi State’s Primary Healthcare Board Executive Chairman, Rilwanu Mohammed, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the drive, stressing that “the vaccine is most effective when administered to girls aged nine to 14—before any exposure to the virus.”
With this concerted push, Nigeria aims to safeguard thousands of women each year and cement its place among the global leaders in HPV vaccine coverage.
