First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called on Nigerians to speak up and seek help when facing life-threatening health challenges, stressing the importance of early detection and treatment, particularly in cases like cervical cancer.
“No one chooses an ailment for themselves. So, there is no need to be ashamed to seek help,” she said during a meeting with the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination in her office at the State House.
As part of activities to mark World Health Day 2025, the First Lady announced a N1 billion donation through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) towards the treatment and eradication of cervical cancer in Nigeria.
The funds, she stated, would be donated to the National Cancer Fund and sourced from donors supporting her initiative.
“This is a way of giving back to society and tackling a serious issue affecting our women.
“A healthy nation is a wealthy nation. No matter the 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 noted.
She expressed support for the national strategy focused on testing, screening, vaccination and treatment, aimed at eliminating cervical cancer from Nigeria by 2030.
The minister of state for health and social welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, who led the taskforce delegation, praised the First Lady for her pivotal role in promoting the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
He revealed that 12 million girls between the ages of nine and 13 have already been vaccinated since the vaccine was introduced into Nigeria’s routine immunisation programme.
Another six million are targeted for vaccination in 2025.
Former minister of health and chairman of the taskforce, Isaac Adewole, lauded the First Lady’s involvement as a demonstration of uncommon political will, urging her to continue championing the cause until the disease is eradicated.
Dr Walter Mulombo, the World Health Organisation’s country representative, also present at the meeting, appealed to Mrs Tinubu to remain at the forefront of the campaign.
“Every child and woman has a right to live,” he said.
Tinubu reiterated her commitment to women’s health and urged more Nigerians to embrace health education, screenings and vaccinations to reduce avoidable deaths and improve national wellbeing.
