National Strategic Plan for Prevention and Control of Cancer of the Cervix 2023–2027 (NSP-CCC)

What Is This Policy?

The National Strategic Plan for Prevention and Control of Cancer of the Cervix (NSP-CCC) is Nigeria’s dedicated strategic framework to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. Developed by NICRAT in partnership with the WHO and development partners, it aligns with the WHO Global Strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer by 2030. The Plan sets ambitious, phased targets for HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment across Nigeria’s healthcare continuum from primary healthcare centres to tertiary institutions.

Who Does It Target?

Girls aged 9–14 years eligible for HPV vaccination through the national immunisation programme Women aged 25–65 years eligible for cervical cancer screening (over 61 million at-risk women and girls in Nigeria) State and federal health facilities providing screening, diagnosis, and treatment services Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), General Hospitals, and Tertiary Cancer Centres Health workers, nurses, and midwives requiring training in cervical cancer screening protocols Development partners, CSOs, faith-based organisations, and community stakeholders involved in outreach and demand creation

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Achieve the WHO 90-70-90 elimination targets: vaccinate 90% of girls, screen 70% of women, and treat 90% of detected cases by 2030 Screen at least 50% of eligible Nigerian women and treat 100% of detected precancerous lesions by 2027 Integrate HPV vaccination and cervical screening into routine Primary Health Care (PHC) services nationwide Strengthen health system capacity for cervical cancer diagnosis, pathology, and treatment at all levels Establish a coordinated national data and surveillance system for cervical cancer incidence, screening coverage, and outcomes Reduce the annual estimated 7,100 cervical cancer deaths in Nigeria through sustained, evidence-based interventions

Key Features

HPV Vaccination Integration: Single-dose HPV vaccination introduced into routine immunisation in October 2023; initial campaign reached over 12 million girls aged 9–14 years 90-70-90 Framework: Phased, milestone-driven implementation aligned with the WHO global elimination strategy, with yearly progressive targets National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE): 15-member government task force established August 2024, chaired by Prof. Isaac Adewole, to coordinate implementation and submit quarterly progress reports Screening & Treatment Scale-Up: Targets integration of screening into PHC using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) and HPV DNA testing; fewer than 12% of eligible women are currently screened Phased Implementation Approach: Interventions sequenced with progressive milestones per year to accommodate resource-constrained settings Monitoring & Evaluation: Defined performance indicators and M&E plan with reporting through NICRAT to the Federal Ministry of Health Collaborative Development: Co-developed with WHO, development partners, and multi-sectoral government agencies with an agreed collaborative funding approach

Current Status

The National Strategic Plan for Prevention and Control of Cancer of the Cervix 2023–2027 is active and being implemented, as it was developed by NICRAT in partnership with the WHO and sets targets for ongoing health initiatives.

Legal Framework

The National Strategic Plan for Prevention and Control of Cancer of the Cervix operates under the National Cancer Control Plan, the National Health Act 2014, and the National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) Act. It aligns with the Immunization Act, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency Act, and Nigeria's obligations under the WHO Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer (2020–2030) and the SDG 3 target on non-communicable diseases.