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Health authorities in Nigeria have announced the start of HPV (human papillomavirus infection) vaccination in a bid to combat cervical cancer in the country.
HPV, a common virus usually spread through intimate sexual contact, can in a minority of cases lead to cervical cancer.
In 2021, a major study found the HPV vaccine was cutting cases of cervical cancer by nearly 90%.
“The programme was vital as at least 12,000 women every year have advanced stages of cervical cancer”, Nigeria’s Health Minister Muhammad Pate told the BBC.
“About 90% of them lose their lives because of that,” he added.
The nationwide campaign began on Tuesday and the health ministry aims to vaccinate 16.6 million girls aged between nine and 14 by the end of 2025.
