Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady, has pledged One billion naira to the National Cancer Fund to support the fight against cervical cancer in Nigeria.
In addition to her generous donation, she urged Nigerians, particularly women, to speak up and seek medical assistance whenever faced with health challenges.
Mrs. Tinubu made the donation when she received a delegation from the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination, led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako.
She emphasized that no one chooses to suffer from illness and that there should be no shame in seeking help.
“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,” she stated.
Highlighting the importance of a healthy population, she added, “A healthy nation is a wealthy nation.”
The First Lady noted that the fight against cancer could be won if patients seek medical attention early.
She further stressed the relevance of this year’s World Health Day theme, “Healthy Beginnings; Hopeful Future,” calling it especially fitting for the ongoing efforts to tackle cervical cancer. “I believe you said most of my work is 70% in health. A healthy nation is a wealthy nation. 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 said.
In his remarks, Dr. Salako commended the First Lady for her support in introducing the HPV vaccine into Nigeria’s routine immunization program.
He revealed that 12 million girls aged 9 to 13 had been immunized in the first 9 months of the program’s introduction and expressed hopes of vaccinating 6 million girls this year.
Prof. Issac Adewole, Chairman of the Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination and former Minister of Health, praised Mrs. Tinubu for her strong political commitment in backing the introduction of the HPV vaccine into the country’s immunization program.
He affirmed that with continued support, the target of immunizing 8 million girls annually could be achieved, eliminating cervical cancer by 2030.
Dr. Walter Mulombo, the Country Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), appealed to the First Lady to lead the campaign, emphasizing that every child and woman has the right to live.
The visit of the Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination coincided with the observance of World Health Day 2025, which carried the theme “Healthy Beginnings; Hopeful Future.”
