By Saint Mugaga

The Chairman of the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE), Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Monday reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to ending cervical cancer.

Prof. Adewole made the remarks while addressing reporters at the National Assembly on Monday ahead of activities marking World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.

Adewole, who was represented by the Director Cancer Prevention and Control, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Dr Usman Waziri, described the disease as a preventable tragedy that continues to claim thousands of lives.

The Task Force, he said, secured a ₦1 billion donation from Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to support nationwide screening.

He said the Task Force recently constituted a national project implementation subcommittee chaired by Prof Okechukwu Ikpeze, the president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Nigeria (SOGON).

“The committee has been mandated to plan a nationwide rollout of HPV testing across the 6 geopolitical zones, using the N1 billion billion Naira donation from Her Excellency as seed funding. The beneficiary state’s commitment to counterpart funding to ensure sustainability is a prerequisite for selecting the 6 states for the pilot,” he said.

He said this year’s theme, ‘Act Now: Eliminate Cervical Cancer,’ reflects our commitment to expanding vaccination, screening, and treatment initiatives across the country.

He noted that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Nigerian women.

“In 2022, Nigeria recorded 14,089 new cases and 8,240 deaths, with a fatality rate of about 60 percent. Despite available vaccines and early detection methods, the disease remains a serious public health challenge,” he added.

Prof. Adewole highlighted Nigeria’s role on the global stage, saying, “In 2018, Nigeria was the only country to join WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the United Nations General Assembly to call for international collaboration to eliminate cervical cancer. This led to the launch of the global elimination strategy on November 17, 2020.”

He also explained the establishment of the NTF-CCE in 2024. “The Task Force is chaired by myself, with Prof. Sani Malami, former president of the Nigerian Cancer Society, as secretary, and Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, president-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), as vice chair,” Prof. Adewole said.

Prof. Adewole also outlined the launch of the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCiN), which targets vaccinating 8 million adolescent girls and screening 8 million women annually.

“The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency will lead vaccine delivery, while the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment oversees screening,” he said.

He highlighted Nigeria’s vaccination progress: “While only 6 million girls were vaccinated across Africa in 2022, Nigeria alone has vaccinated over 15 million girls in two years, tripling coverage on the continent.”

On today’s commemoration, Prof. Adewole said, “The National Assembly will be illuminated in teal, the international colour for cervical cancer awareness, to recognise the role of legislation in improving access to free screening in public health facilities.”

“Our goal is clear: to put Nigeria firmly on the path to cervical cancer elimination. With political support, public engagement, and effective implementation of vaccination and screening programs, we can prevent needless deaths and save lives,” Prof. Adewole said.

He urged collaboration with state governments, health agencies, and civil society to achieve the Task Force’s ambitious targets.

…….As It Warns Will it Kill More Africans Than HIV/AIDS, Malaria Combined

By Wumi Tewogbade, Abuja

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday, raised alarm at the rate at which antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is killing more people in sub-Saharan Africa than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined, calling it a “silent pandemic” that threatens decades of global health progress.
This was contained in a statement issued by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, to commemorate the 2025 World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW), in Abuja.

“Antimicrobial Resistance is silently undermining decades of health progress. Medicines that once cured infections no longer work. AMR is everyone’s business,” Janabi warned.
“Doing nothing is not an option. AMR is here, and we must act now.”

Janabi revealed alarming statistics showing the continent bears the highest burden of drug-resistant infections:

1.27 million deaths globally in 2019 were directly caused by AMRwith sub-Saharan Africa recording the highest mortality.

Major killers include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, each responsible for more than 100,000 AMR-linked deaths.

In 2021 alone, an estimated 1.14 million AMR-related deaths occurred globally, again with Africa worst affected.

“This is not a far-off crisis; it is here now and causing significant morbidity and mortality in our region,” Janabi stressed.

According to the WHO chief, the inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans and animals, poor water and sanitation systems, and limited diagnostic capacity are accelerating the spread of resistant infections across Africa’s 47 Member States.

He emphasized that education and awareness must underpin all AMR response efforts:

“Understanding AMR is key to catalysing positive behaviour change. Addressing the misuse of antimicrobials begins with strong education.”

Janabi highlighted ongoing efforts by African governments, supported by WHO and quadripartite partners (FAO, UNEP, WOAH, Africa CDC and AU-IBAR):

All 47 African countries now have multisectoral National Action Plans on AMR.

25 countries (53%) are using WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS).

32 countries (68%) are implementing interventions to promote responsible antimicrobial use in communities and health facilities.

Over 220 officials from 20 countries have received leadership training to strengthen AMR governance and coordination.

“These gains show the power of accurate data, national commitment and cross-sector collaboration,” Janabi said.

Call to Governments, Health Workers, Communities and Youth

The WHO Regional Director issued a broad call to action:

For Governments:“Prioritize sustainable funding and translate commitments into domestic financing.”

For Health Professionals: “Prescribe responsibly and uphold infection prevention standards.”

For Environmental Regulators: “Reduce environmental contamination from antimicrobial waste.”

For Civil Society: “Be behaviour change champions, accountability watchdogs and equity advocates.”

For the Public: “Do not buy antibiotics on the streets. Do not self-medicate. Complete every prescribed dose.”

For Youth: “Use your voice, your platforms, your influence. Be the generation that preserves the power of antibiotics.”

Janabi warned that AMR is not just a medical problem but a multisectoral threat affecting agriculture, food security, economic development and the environment.

“Together, through One Health action, innovation and accountability, we can mitigate this silent pandemic and secure a healthier, safer future for Africa and the world.”

The House of Representatives Thursday inaugurated an ad hoc committee to investigate allegations of professional misconduct, negligence and divided attention among consultants at the National Hospital, Abuja and all teaching hospitals in the country.

The committee is to also examine the hospital’s administrative and financial management practices and report back in four weeks.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Hon. Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi.

In adopting the motion, the lawmakers condemned the practice of consultants and other medical personnel in all teaching hospitals, including National Hospital, Abuja of allegedly abandoning their official duties for private practice to the detriment of patients.

The Ad-hoc committee is to also conduct a comprehensive audit of all medical consultants and doctors in all teaching hospitals in Nigeria, including the National Hospital, Abuja, in order to verify their contractual status and employment records.

The committee is also expected to ascertain their involvement in private practice during official hours; review doctor-to-patient ratios and case attendance logs.

Similarly, it will assess mortality and morbidity rates linked to consultant service delivery.

Finally, the House mandated the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to collaborate with the Ad-hoc committee in auditing the competence, conduct, and practice of all consultants in the hospitals to eliminate quackery and restore professionalism.

Leading debate on the motion, Hon. Joe Onuakalusi noted that the National Hospital, Abuja (NHA) was established by Act No. 36 of 1999 and designed to provide tertiary health services to Nigerians, serving as the apex referral hospital in the Federal Capital Territory and across the nation;

He said the hospital was originally conceived as a model women and children’s facility but later expanded to cover all medical and surgical specialties with a mandate to deliver high-quality healthcare services, training, and research.

The lawmaker informed that the management of the hospital recently disclosed that staff strength has dropped to about 2,500 from an earlier 3,000 due to brain drain and poor motivation, severely affecting patient care delivery and supervision;

“Aware that there are increasing reports of consultants and medical personnel in the National Hospital, Abuja, engaging in private practice, either running their own clinics or working in other privately owned hospitals during official work hours.

“Concerned that this unethical practice has led to divided attention, neglect of patients, poor supervision of junior doctors, and in many cases, avoidable deaths due to delayed or inadequate medical response.

“Worried that a recent tragic case of my Aunt, Mrs Nkechi Ifesie, who lost her life at the National Hospital as a result of medical negligence – her blood level was not properly checked, and due to multiple venipuncture attempts while searching for a vein, she suffered internal haemorrhage that ultimately led to her death;

“Also worried that such incidents are not isolated, as recent reports and surveys have highlighted growing complaints of negligence, lack of accountability, and poor service delivery at the hospital;
Notes further that a ten-year retrospective study at the National Hospital Abuja revealed an autopsy rate of only 11%, with haemorrhage, cardiac shock, and coma being the most common immediate causes of death – indicative of system inefficiencies and poor monitoring of patient outcomes”.

According to him, despite the hospital generating an average of over ₦400 million monthly in internally generated revenue due to digital record reforms, the quality of patient care remains alarmingly low and the rate of fatalities disturbingly high.

He expressed dismay that “Divided attention and professional indiscipline among some consultants, if unchecked, could erode public trust in one of Nigeria’s foremost national health institutions, undermine the country’s healthcare reputation, and discourage citizens from seeking care locally”.

The motion was unanimously passed.