The Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has warned that cervical cancer continues to claim the lives of at least 22 Nigerian women daily, with about 33 new infections recorded every day.
Director-General of the institute, Oliver Ezechi, disclosed the figures during the institute’s Monthly Media Chat in Lagos, describing the toll as unacceptable for a largely preventable disease.
Citing data from the World Health Organization, Ezechi attributed the rising burden to low awareness, poor screening uptake, and limited vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)—the virus responsible for nearly all cervical cancer cases.
Presenting findings from NIMR’s molecular detection and genotyping studies, the institute’s Deputy Director of Research, Chika Onwuamah, said HPV infection rates remain alarmingly high nationwide.
According to him, surveys conducted between 2015 and 2019 across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones showed a 34 percent infection rate among women, with 27 percent linked to high-risk strains known to cause cancer. He noted that HPV types 16 and 18 are most strongly associated with cervical cancer due to their persistence in the body.
Onwuamah added that behavioural factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption increase susceptibility, while pregnant women and female commercial sex workers recorded higher infection rates.
He warned that more than 60 million Nigerian women aged 15 and above are at risk, describing the situation as a major public health challenge.
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The research also revealed significant gaps in prevention: only 27 percent of women surveyed were aware that HPV can be prevented through vaccination, and just six percent had received the vaccine.
Globally, cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death among women, with about 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths recorded in 2020. In Nigeria, approximately 12,100 cases and nearly 8,000 deaths were reported the same year, though experts believe the true figures may be higher due to underreporting.
Nigeria integrated the HPV vaccine into routine immunisation in 2023, targeting girls aged nine to 14, in line with the WHO elimination strategy.
Quoting Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, Onwuamah stressed the urgency of vaccination, noting that thousands of preventable deaths occur annually.
He also highlighted low screening rates as a major concern, explaining that cervical cancer often shows no symptoms in early stages, leading many women to seek medical care only when the disease is advanced.
Cultural barriers, fear, and limited access to female healthcare providers were identified as key obstacles to screening. However, he noted that new research indicates self-sample HPV testing could improve access, particularly in rural and culturally sensitive communities.
Public health experts say accelerating vaccination, awareness, and early screening efforts is critical to reducing the burden of cervical cancer and preventing avoidable deaths among Nigerian women.
