The True Cost of Not Knowing and Ignorance: Why Nigerian Women Must Prioritize Cervical Cancer Prevention

Every year, more than 14,000 Nigerian women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and over half of them die from a disease that is largely preventable. For Dr. Omolola Salako, Clinical Oncologist and Founder of Sebeccly Cancer Care, each diagnosis represents a missed opportunity to educate, screen, and vaccinate. “Cervical cancer should not be a death sentence. Prevention is possible, and early detection saves lives,” she says. Nigeria’s healthcare system remains mostly reactive, waiting for symptoms before action, when a preventive approach through community education, HPV vaccination, and regular screening could save thousands of lives and reduce the strain on already limited resources.

Through the BellaNaija #StopHPVForHer campaign, Dr. Salako and other partners are working to change this narrative. BellaNaija’s wide reach and trusted platform are helping translate clinical knowledge into relatable messages that inspire women to act. The campaign encourages parents to vaccinate girls from age nine and motivates women to undergo routine Pap smears. The HPV vaccine, which prevents more than 95 percent of cervical cancer cases, is free in most primary health centres for girls aged 9 to 14 and costs between ₦30,000 and ₦60,000 in private facilities, a small fraction of the millions needed for treatment.

The economic and emotional cost of cervical cancer is devastating. Many women face pain, financial hardship, and fear, while their families struggle to fund treatment. Nigeria has fewer than 15 radiotherapy machines for a population of over 200 million and about 100 clinical oncologists nationwide. With five of these machines concentrated in Lagos, patients travel long distances for care, often arriving when the disease is already advanced and difficult to cure. “The tragedy is not our lack of knowledge; it is our lack of access,” Dr. Salako explains.

To bridge this gap, Sebeccly Cancer Care, in partnership with the ACT Foundation and government agencies, launched a women’s cancer screening program in 2017. This initiative has reached more than 34,000 women, offering free breast and cervical screenings long before they become part of the statistics. The precancer stage of cervical cancer, known as stage 0, can be detected through a simple Pap smear, allowing for timely treatment and prevention before symptoms ever appear.

Dr. Salako believes Nigeria can eliminate cervical cancer if prevention becomes a national priority. “The cost of not knowing is too high,” she says. “If parents, schools, faith communities, and the media unite to spread awareness and promote vaccination, no woman should have to die from a disease that is entirely preventable.” The #StopHPVForHer campaign represents a hopeful turning point where knowledge, access, and early action can save thousands of Nigerian women from needless suffering and loss.