21 States to Begin Phase II of HPV Vaccination on May 27

Starting May 27, 2024, twenty-one states in Nigeria will commence Phase II of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program. This initiative aims to expedite the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health issue in Nigeria.

The announcement came from a communiqué issued after a meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) in Abuja.

The communiqué, signed by NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, noted that the forum had received a briefing from Dr.

The briefing also covered progress in expanding health insurance coverage, performance in nutrition, and the Primary Healthcare (PHC) Leadership Challenge in the states involved.

In October 2023, the Federal government began integrating the HPV vaccine into the national health system to immunize 7.7 million adolescent girls aged 9–14. The Nigeria Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) is leading this initiative to address cervical cancer in the country.