Paediatric Association of Nigeria Joins Global Partnership on World Cancer Day to Close the HPV Vaccination Gap

The Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) today announced its participation in a global partnership led by the International Pediatric Association (IPA) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and accelerate progress toward eliminating cervical cancer, in alignment with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global strategy to eliminate the disease.

Cervical cancer is largely preventable, yet more than half of girls worldwide remain unvaccinated against HPV, the virus responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer. Globally, over 600,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and more than 340,000 die, with the greatest burden in low- and middle-income countries.

Through the Vaccinate Adolescents Against Cervical Cancer partnership, pediatric and other medical societies, healthcare professionals, and public health leaders are working together to close this gap and support WHO’s goal of vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15. The partnership focuses on strengthening healthcare worker confidence and leadership, recognizing that a strong recommendation from a trusted healthcare provider is one of the most powerful drivers of HPV vaccine uptake.

As part of the partnership, IPA and ACS will provide a free online training course and ready-to-use resources to support pediatric and other medical societies and frontline healthcare providers in improving HPV vaccination coverage. These tools will be officially launched during a global virtual event on 4 March 2026, bringing together pediatric leaders and public health partners from around the world.

“Cervical cancer is a preventable disease, and HPV vaccination remains one of the most effective tools for protecting the health and future of our girls. As paediatricians and child health advocates, the Paediatric Association of Nigeria is committed to strengthening healthcare worker leadership and ensuring that every eligible girl receives a strong recommendation for HPV vaccination. We fully support the global target of vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15 and will continue to work with partners to achieve this goal in Nigeria.”

Over the coming years, the Paediatric Association of Nigeria aims to train healthcare providers across the country and support the Ministry of Health and partner medical societies in advancing national HPV vaccination efforts.

Launched on World Cancer Day, this partnership underscores a shared message across countries: cervical cancer is preventable, healthcare worker recommendations save lives, and reaching every girl is essential to eliminating the disease.