Nigeria Charts a Sustainable Path for HPV Vaccination
Nigeria Charts a Sustainable Path for HPV Vaccination: Evidence-Informed Advocacy to Strengthen Cervical Cancer Prevention
Management Sciences for Health (MSH), through the Evidence-Informed Technical Advocacy for HPV Vaccine Introduction in Nigeria project, is partnering with government leaders and other stakeholders to strengthen cervical cancer prevention and control nationwide. The initiative supports two complementary efforts: generating local evidence for informed decision-making and fostering multisectoral collaboration to sustain HPV vaccination in Nigeria.
In partnership with the Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR) and Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA), MSH convened national and subnational health leaders for the Nigeria Policy and Advocacy for Sustained HPV Vaccination: Evidence for Informed Technical Advocacy Dissemination Workshop, held in Abuja on November 7, 2025.
The event brought together representatives from the Federal and State Ministries of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Ministry of Women Affairs, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other key partners to review new evidence and policy pathways for sustaining the country’s HPV vaccination program.
A Shared Commitment to Women’s Health
Opening the workshop, Dr. Dan Schwarz, MSH Chief Medical Officer, commended Nigeria’s strong leadership and commitment to women’s health.
“Cervical cancer is preventable, and Nigeria is taking decisive steps to protect future generations,” he said.
Schwarz emphasized MSH’s long-standing partnership with the Government of Nigerian and its commitment to strengthening national systems for sustainable health impact.
“Our philosophy is simple: Strengthen national systems and empower local leadership to achieve lasting health impact. Nigeria has the technical capacity, the policy frameworks, the professional expertise, and the political will. The question now is how we sustain and scale the progress already made.”
Dr. Dan Schwarz, MSH Chief Medical Officer
Celebrating a Milestone in Women’s Health
Since its nationwide launch in 2023, Nigeria’s HPV vaccination campaign has reached over 12 million girls aged 9–14, making it one of the largest HPV vaccination efforts in the world. Speaking on behalf of the Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Ahmed Rufai, Director of Disease Control and Immunization, reaffirmed the government’s commitment:
“Our goal is zero cervical cancer cases in Nigeria. True success will be when parents walk into health facilities asking for the HPV vaccine for their daughters.”
Evidence for Action
Through the Evidence-Informed Technical Advocacy project, MSH and partners conducted research across Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos States to identify opportunities and challenges in sustaining HPV vaccine delivery. The analysis estimated that vaccinating each eligible girl costs between ₦9,000 and ₦14,000 (approximately USD $6-$9) and highlighted the need for state-level policies, dedicated budget lines, and stronger coordination mechanisms to ensure continuity beyond Gavi support.
Driving Sustainable Solutions
Stakeholders discussed policy, financing and coordination priorities to guide next steps:
- Policy Reform: Align national and state frameworks, expand vaccination to all girls aged 9–14, and explore school-based HPV certification requirements.
- Financing: Establish clear budget lines, leverage the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, and develop state-level basket funds to ensure consistent funding for routine immunization.
- Coordination: Strengthen the Technical Working Groups (TWGs), revitalize scorecards, and embed HPV activities into annual operational plans for accountability and ownership.
Kano State’s remarkable increase in HPV vaccination coverage, from 4% to 86%, was highlighted as a model of local leadership, government ownership, and partner coordination.
Participants emphasized that sustainable HPV vaccination requires a multisectoral approach, community trust, and strong local leadership. Partners reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian girl—whether in or out of school—has access to this life-saving vaccine.
Elizabeth Hassan, HPV focal person representing NPHCDA, expressed gratitude to MSH, SCIDaR, WAVA, and all supporting partners: “Nigeria’s success is a collective achievement. Let’s continue to move from dialogue to action and make cervical cancer a disease of the past.”