Enhancing cervical cancer prevention in Nigeria

Abuja ‒ Adenike Olayemi says Nigeria’s cervical cancer screening programme saved her life: “I cannot imagine what could have happened if I had not done the screening and gone for treatment.”

Olayemi, 43, who lives in Ondo State, was among 667 women who tested positive for the human papillomavirus (HPV) and underwent treatment to avert cervical cancer during a campaign in 2023, funded by the Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation and supported by World Health Organization (WHO) in the African Region.

Safeguarding the future of women and girls in Nigeria against cervical cancer

Abuja, 06 February, 2024 -  When 11-year-old Morenike Ayeni received the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV), she became one of the millions of adolescent girls to get vaccinated against cervical cancer in Nigeria. 

“Hearing that the government was giving HPV vaccines to girls aged 9 to 14 years, I made sure my daughter got her shot to safeguard her future. “It is better to prevent diseases using vaccines than seeking cures or treatments”, Said Mrs Ayeni, a businesswoman residing in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. 

Noma: a deadly Neglected Tropical Disease that should not exist

Sokoto, 31 January, 2024 - At age 6, Shamudeen Umaru’s (name changed) face was severely disfigured by noma, a life-threatening disease that primarily affects children under the age of 10. 

“The disease started suddenly with a toothache and within a few days, his face had been destroyed. This affected his eating and drinking because most of the food and water poured out from his mouth’’, said Shamudeen’s mother,  Fatima Umaru, from Munwadata, Lela Ward, Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria. 

WHO pledges support for government’s health agenda in northeast Nigeria

Borno, 31 January, 2024 - In a significant development aimed at tackling the pressing public health challenges in northeast Nigeria, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed its commitment to align with the government’s vision to provide comprehensive health intervention to the vulnerable population in the region.  

The states in the northeast are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.

In Nigeria, stakeholders are charting a sustainable pathway to achieving Universal H...

Abuja, 16 December, 2023 - The World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with its partners is supporting the government of Nigeria in finding evidence-based and sustainable solutions  towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. 

This is to accelerate the ongoing effort of the government to ensure that all Nigerians irrespective of age, status, and geographic location, have access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship.

FG, WHO agrees to reinforce health emergency programmes in the northeast after 13th ...

Maiduguri – 4 December, 2023 - The World Health Organization (WHO) has restated its commitment to continually provide leadership and coordination to support the government in reaching the underserved and vulnerable populations in northeast Nigeria with essential health services.

The WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, gave the assurance during his welcome remark at the recently concluded 13th Joint Operational Review (JOR) held in Yola, Adamawa State, from 27 to 29 November 2023.