Nigeria listed among Commonwealth leaders in cervical cancer fight

By Sola Ogundipe

Nigeria’s efforts to reduce cervical cancer cases have     drawn attention at the Commonwealth level, with the country listed among 12 member nations making progress in vaccination, screening and treatment.

Nigeria was singled out for her nationwide rollout of the single dose HPV vaccine campaign introduced in October 2023 under the leadership of First Lady, Olur

emi Tinubu. Officials at the meeting said nearly 17 million girls had been vaccinated by early 2026.

The recognition came during the launch of a new “Compendium of Case Studies on Cervical Cancer Elimination” by the Commonwealth Secretariat at the inaugural Commonwealth Health Coordination Forum that held in Geneva, Switzerland.

The activity was held ahead of the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) under the theme “Shaping the Future of Cancer Across the Commonwealth”.

The new report, produced with support from member states and Roche Diagnostics, was presented before health ministers, policy experts and development partners concerned about the growing burden of cervical cancer across Commonwealth countries.

Across much of the developing world, cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths among women, largely because many cases are detected late and access to screening remains limited. 

Discussions at the forum focused heavily on financing. Countries shared concerns over shrinking donor support and rising healthcare costs, while calling for stronger domestic funding mechanisms to sustain cancer prevention and treatment.

During a session on cancer financing co-chaired by the Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Aliyu Malami, who represented the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, participants argued that cancer services must remain part of Universal Health Coverage despite economic pressures facing health systems.

Alongside the report, the Secretariat also introduced a Cervical Cancer Advocacy Toolkit aimed at helping First Ladies and spouses of Heads of Government drive awareness campaigns in their countries.

In a message contained in the foreword, Commonwealth Secretary General Shirley Botchwey said women’s health should occupy a more central place in public policy discussions across member states.

 “First Ladies have a unique capacity to mobilise public attention, influence national dialogue, and inspire action on issues of profound social importance,” she said.

“This toolkit has been developed to support First Ladies, Spouses and partners of Heads of Government in leading informed, strategic, and impactful advocacy for cervical cancer elimination across Commonwealth countries.” 

She said by placing women’s health, equity, and dignity at the centre of national priorities, progress can be accelerated towards a future where no woman dies from a preventable disease.

Former Guyana Minister of Health and Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Leslie Ramsammy, who chaired  the forum,  said: “Our purpose today is to identify where Commonwealth co-operation can add practical value. This includes strengthening national cancer control plans, improving early detection and diagnosis, expanding access to treatment and palliative care, and improving data systems for better planning and accountability.”

In the view of the Assistant Director-General, Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care, World Health Organisation, Dr Jeremy Farrar, “We need to address cancer initiatives in a continuum, by examining three strategic areas: promotion, prevention and treatment. 

“The best way of connecting is to make sure that our health systems work for everybody in an equitable and accessible way. We have to reconnect our politics and our policies with communities and health.  This health forum could help us push that forward.”

Discussions on cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and care were informed by the findings of the Lancet Oncology Commission on Cancer in the Commonwealth.

Chairman of the forum and former Guyanese Health Minister, Leslie Ramsammy, said the Commonwealth must focus less on broad declarations and more on practical support in areas such as diagnosis, treatment access, palliative care and health data systems.

Also speaking, Jeremy Farrar of the World Health Organization said stronger health systems are essential if cancer prevention programmes are to succeed.

According to him, prevention, screening and treatment must work together rather than operate separately.

Countries highlighted for notable interventions included Australia, which combined HPV vaccination with organised screening and self collection methods, and Bangladesh, which carried out a large scale HPV vaccination campaign backed by digital tracking systems.

Kenya was recognised for using multi sector partnerships to implement its national cancer strategy, while Zambia was cited for integrating cervical cancer screening into HIV care services through a single visit screen and treat approach.

In a recorded message to delegates, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali urged deeper collaboration across the Commonwealth, saying no country could eliminate cervical cancer alone.

Recommendations from the forum are expected to feed into future Commonwealth health meetings as member states pursue the long term target of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat by 2050.

DELSUTH doctors threaten indefinite strike over rotting facilities, poor allowances

By Chioma Obinna

The industrial crisis 

rocking the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, on Friday deepened as doctors under the aegis of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, warned of an impending indefinite strike over what they described as deteriorating hospital conditions, unpaid professional allowances and alleged intimidation of union leaders.

The association, which commenced a one-week warning strike on May 18, said the industrial action was aimed at compelling the Delta State Government to implement the Revised Professional Allowances currently enjoyed by doctors in federal health institutions and urgently address the “poor state” of the hospital.

But beyond the welfare dispute, the doctors also accused hospital authorities of attempting to suppress growing concerns over the condition of the institution through intimidation and media management tactics rather than addressing underlying problems.

In a press statement jointly signed by the Chairmen, Dr. Abolodje Efe and Secretary, Dr. Nwajei Anita after an Emergency General Meeting, EGM, MDCAN said the response of the Ministry and hospital management to the doctors’ demands had included what it described as coercive measures targeted at the union leadership.

According to the association, its chairman was subjected to “a Facebook blackmail attempt,” issued a query letter and dragged before an investigative panel over an unsigned/unattributed Facebook post.

The association described the actions as victimisation and warned that continued intimidation of its leadership could worsen the tense situation within the hospital.

“MDCAN DELSUTH reiterates its call for an immediate end to the victimisation of the Chairman,” they stated.

The association warned that failure to urgently address the issues raised could trigger a total and indefinite strike capable of paralysing healthcare delivery within the institution.

The doctors also alleged attempts to prevent independent assessment of the hospital’s condition after Channels Television was invited by the association for what it described as a fact-finding mission to the hospital but was allegedly denied access by the management.

According to MDCAN, shortly after the failed visit, the hospital management reportedly invited another media organisation while hurried clean-up and repair activities allegedly commenced across parts of the facility.

The association claimed that on May 22, observers noticed ongoing work from the hospital gate to wards and corridors, allegedly aimed at presenting a more favourable image of the hospital ahead of a planned media visit.

“A staff member informed the Chairman that a media house was expected to visit, while the Acting Chief Medical Director also acknowledged that a media crew was coming,” the statement said.

“Rather than addressing the concerns raised by MDCAN, there appears to be an attempt to suppress the truth and mislead the public about the actual state of the hospital.”

At the centre of the dispute are allegations of worsening infrastructure decay, non-functional equipment and deteriorating welfare conditions, which doctors say are fueling  exodus of specialists from the institution.

MDCAN alleged that several doctors have continued to leave DELSUTH for neighbouring federal institutions including the National Orthopaedic Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre due to the failure to implement the Revised Professional Allowances approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC.

According to the association, the growing brain drain is placing enormous pressure on the few doctors left within the system and threatening healthcare delivery.

“Doctors are leaving in droves because welfare conditions are no longer sustainable,” the association stated.

The doctors warned that if urgent intervention is not made by the Delta State Government, the looming indefinite strike could cripple clinical services, disrupt residency training programmes and destabilise the medical school programme linked to the teaching hospital.

“There is an anticipated total and indefinite strike that could paralyse clinical activities, residency training and medical school programmes if these issues are not addressed urgently,” MDCAN warned.

The association urged the Delta State Government to immediately intervene to prevent what it described as a looming healthcare crisis at the state-owned tertiary hospital.

They stressed that the warning strike, which began on May 18, is expected to continue through the week as uncertainty grows over possible negotiations between the doctors, hospital management, and state authorities.

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