Nigeria’s First Lady Donates N1bn, Says No Woman Should Die from Cervical Cancer
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has donated N1 billion to the national cancer fund as part of efforts to combat cervical cancer in the country.
She announced the donation during a meeting with members of the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination, led by the Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako.
“I am in support of what you are doing. We are on track, especially with the approach you have adopted: test, screen, vaccinate, and treat,” Tinubu said.
She stressed the need to address health issues affecting women, especially cervical cancer, which remains a major threat in low-income and underserved communities.
“No matter what wealth you have as a nation, if your population or majority of your population is sick, you are just the poorest as far as I am concerned,” she added.
Referencing the 2024 World Health Day theme, ‘Healthy beginnings: hopeful future’, the first lady described it as fitting for the national campaign, noting that much of her work has focused on health-related interventions. “A healthy nation is a wealthy nation,” she said.
Salako acknowledged the role of the first lady’s office in expanding access to the HPV vaccine, revealing that 12 million girls aged 9 to 13 were vaccinated in the first nine months following the vaccine’s introduction. He added that the ministry aims to vaccinate an additional six million girls this year.
Also speaking, Isaac Adewole, Chair of the Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination and a former Minister of Health, commended Tinubu’s support for incorporating the HPV vaccine into routine immunisation.
He said this backing is critical to achieving the “8 by 8 target” of vaccinating 8 million girls annually to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Walter Mulombo, urged Tinubu to lead the public campaign, emphasizing that every woman and child deserves the right to live free from preventable diseases.
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