Skip to content

Pathfinder to Enhance HPV Vaccine Awareness and Uptake in Nigeria

Abuja, Nigeria, February 7, 2024—Pathfinder will contribute to the prevention of cervical cancer in Nigeria’s Kano, Lagos, and Kaduna states through a newly awarded project: Enhancing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Awareness and Uptake in Nigeria. The project is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Over the next two years, Pathfinder will collaborate with the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Cancer Society, and government agencies to launch an advocacy, community outreach, and communication campaign related to cervical cancer prevention. The campaign seeks to increase uptake of the HPV vaccine, awareness about cervical cancer, and use of self-care practices. As recommended by the World Health Organization, the HPV vaccine is primarily meant for girls ages 9-14, before initiation of sexual activity.1 The project will support vaccination of in-school and out-of-school adolescent girls. The project will seek to increase trust of the vaccine among communities to ensure eligible adolescent girls receive vaccinations.

“The introduction of the HPV vaccine into the Nigeria Routine Immunization Schedule is a giant step in promoting the health of girls and women,” said Dr. Sakina Amin Bello, Senior Program Advisor, Pathfinder Nigeria. “We are honored to work with governments, at both national and state levels, and our local partners in giving girls ages 9-14 years the lifesaving HPV vaccine to protect them against cervical cancer.” HPV is the cause of almost all cervical cancer cases. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women ages 15-44 in Nigeria, with over 12,000 cases diagnosed annually. It is estimated that about 3.5% of women in Nigeria have a cervical HPV-16/18 infection at a given time, and 66.9% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18.2 Among women ages 25-49 in Nigeria, cervical cancer screening rates are low, with 14% ever tested, 11% tested in the last five years, and 8% tested in the previous three years.

The project will draw from Pathfinder’s experience implementing Accelerating Equitable Access, Acceptance, and Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine (ACCESS) Project in Kano and Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory.

More Stories

Strengthening Health Systems for UHC through a Primary Healthcare Lens: Learning from the African Experience, Building for the Future

By Mengistu Asnake and Rispah Walumbe. This article first appeared in SciDev.net, a global source for news, opinions, and analysis about science and…

Read More

Co-designing programs for youth with youth: an essential approach to localization

By: Manish Mitra Lessons from Pathfinder’s locally led youth programs in India At Pathfinder, we are committed to locally led…

Read More

That’s a Wrap on COP29

Final negotiations at #COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan concluded last week. After two weeks of discussion, this year’s “finance COP” resulted…

Read More

Meet the Climate Champions of Bangladesh 

By Shanaj Parvin Parvin Jonaki, Communications Officer, Pathfinder Bangladesh and Sarah Peck, Communications Advisor  Mosammat Farhana, a college student from…

Read More

Working with Woodabé communities to enhance climate resilience and improve the lives of women and girls

By Ali Adamou Harouna, Communications & External Engagement Advisor – Africa A Sahelian country in the heart of the Sahara…

Read More

Invest in Today’s Health Workforce to Help Tomorrow’s Climate Crisis

By: Crystal Lander, Pathfinder International and Caroline York, IntraHealth The effects of climate change are increasing at meteoric rates, devastating…

Read More

A Global Perspective on Local Action at GHPC 2024

At the Global Health Practitioner Conference (GHPC) 2024, Pathfinder International brought together voices from Kenya, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to explore…

Read More

Reflections from GHPC 2024: Amplifying Community Voices in Climate and Health Action

The Global Health Practitioner Conference (GHPC) 2024 served as a powerful reminder of what we at Pathfinder International have long…

Read More

Nothing About Communities Without Communities

USAID Uganda Family Planning Activity’s Localized Approach to Promoting Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancies I am very grateful to…

Read More

Local Nigerien Organizations Working to Reach Women and Girls in Fragile Settings

How MOMENTUM Integrated Health Resilience reaches communities in crisis In Niger, many communities are now out of reach for international…

Read More

Wrap-Up: World Contraception Day 2024 Webinar

Young women from Burkina Faso, Jordan, Mozambique share stories of reproductive rights and choice Last week, in honor of the…

Read More

From Policy to Practice: Revolutionizing Family Planning in Uganda

USAID/Uganda Family Planning Activity Celebrates World Contraception Day 2024 As we approach World Contraception Day 2024, Uganda faces a stark…

Read More