By Gbolahan Salman Sokoto
In a renewed push to tackle cervical cancer, the Sokoto State Government, in partnership with UNICEF and support from the Canadian Government, has intensified its campaign to improve the uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among adolescent girls.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement held at Sokoto Guest Inn on Tuesday, Dr. Bilyaminu Sifawa, Director of Disease Control and Immunization at the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, emphasized that the HPV vaccine is now part of routine immunization in the state.
“HPV is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Nigeria, after breast cancer,” Dr. Sifawa said. “The vaccine, which is safe and free, was introduced in Sokoto last year for girls aged 9 to 14, and we’ve since seen increasing acceptance thanks to intensified advocacy and community engagement.”
He explained that Sokoto achieved strong community buy-in by working closely with traditional and religious leaders to dispel misinformation about the vaccine and highlight its life-saving benefits.
“We included the HPV vaccine in key health campaigns like the Big Catch-Up and the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week,” he added. “More parents now recognize the value of immunization, and compliance has significantly improved at the local level.”
Also addressing the meeting, Dr. Danjuma Nehemiah, UNICEF Health Specialist for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health in Sokoto, said the forum focused on promoting youth-led action to improve vaccine coverage in low-performing local governments.
“The initiative is backed by the Canadian Government and UNICEF. We trained selected adolescent and youth leaders in Abuja, who are now working in their communities to raise awareness and encourage vaccine uptake,” he said.
Dr. Nehemiah stressed that HPV is the virus responsible for most cases of cervical cancer and that early vaccination—ideally before girls become sexually active—is key to prevention.
“This vaccine has been used globally and proven to be safe and effective. In Nigeria, it is now widely available at no cost as part of routine immunization,” he stated.
Although no comprehensive local data is available, health professionals in Sokoto continue to report cases of cervical cancer in hospitals, reinforcing the need for sustained prevention efforts.
“Cervical cancer is fast catching up with breast cancer as a leading cause of death in Nigerian women. We must act now to reverse the trend, and Sokoto is showing real commitment to that goal,” he added.
The Sokoto State Government and its development partners have pledged to sustain community outreach, youth mobilization, and awareness campaigns to ensure that all eligible girls receive the HPV vaccine.
