The Director, External Affairs, Sub-Saharan Africa, MSD, Vuyo Mjekula, has urged the Nigerian government to deepen private sector participation in cervical cancer prevention. Mjekula made the call at a policy roundtable organised by MSD in conjunction with Africa Health Business (AHB). The theme of the roundtable was “Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination in Nigeria: Uniting Public and Private Sectors for Equitable Access.” Mjekula emphasized that Nigeria had made significant progress with its national Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme.
Nigeria's HPV vaccination programme, which began in 2023, has vaccinated about 18 million girls, with coverage of around 70 per cent and, in some instances, close to 80 per cent. Mjekula described it as the largest programme of its kind in Africa. However, she stressed that vaccination alone would not eliminate cervical cancer. She urged stronger action to ensure women who test positive for HPV have timely access to diagnosis and treatment. The World Health Organisation’s elimination targets include vaccinating 90 per cent of girls against HPV.
The private sector can complement government efforts in cervical cancer prevention, particularly as changes in global development financing increase pressure on countries to mobilise domestic resources for healthcare. Mjekula cited the COVID-19 response as evidence that private healthcare providers can provide additional capacity when barriers to their participation are removed. She called for greater integration of cervical cancer prevention into routine women’s healthcare, including maternal health, family planning and reproductive health services.
Mjekula also urged employers, religious and traditional leaders, civil society organisations and the media to support awareness and screening, particularly among adult women. She clarified that MSD was not advocating a change to Nigeria’s routine target of girls aged nine to 14. However, alternative financing arrangements could help extend vaccination to other eligible groups without placing the entire burden on government. MSD had supported catch-up vaccination for girls aged 18 to 20.
MSD has invested more than $44 million over the past decade through its MSD for Mothers initiative in civil society organisations working in maternal healthcare in Nigeria. The company is also working with Gavi and UNICEF on access to higher-valency HPV vaccines and supporting civil society organisations involved in awareness and social mobilisation. Mjekula stressed that government should continue to set the direction for cancer prevention and control.
Dr Rufai Ahmed Garba, Director, Disease Control and Immunisation, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said more than 18 million adolescent girls had been vaccinated against HPV, representing about 76 per cent of the target population. Garba said Nigeria introduced HPV vaccination into the national programme in October 2023. The vaccine is now part of routine immunisation and available free to nine-year-old girls at public health facilities.
Nigeria records about 12,000 new cervical cancer cases and nearly 8,000 deaths annually. Garba stressed that the response must go beyond vaccination to include screening, early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. The agency is using school-based vaccination and outreach programmes to improve access. Adolescent-friendly health services can provide safe spaces for young people to obtain information and preventive care without stigma.
Key points
- MSD urges greater private sector participation in cervical cancer prevention in Nigeria
- Nigeria's HPV vaccination programme has vaccinated about 18 million girls since 2023
- The government aims to eliminate cervical cancer through vaccination, screening, and treatment.
