By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
MARKING WORLD Health Day 2025, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, urged Nigerians—particularly women—to speak up and seek timely medical help when faced with health challenges.
She made the call while receiving the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination, led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, at the State House.
Emphasising the importance of proactive health-seeking behaviour, the First Lady said, “No one chooses an ailment for themselves, so there is no need to be ashamed to seek help.”
She affirmed her full support for the taskforce’s strategy of “test, screen, vaccinate and treat,” describing the initiative as being firmly on track.
“We are doing the right thing. A healthy nation is a wealthy nation,” she stated, reinforcing the connection between public health and national prosperity.
“No matter the wealth you have as a nation, if the majority of your population is sick, you are just the poorest as far as I am concerned.”
In a significant gesture of support, Senator Tinubu, on behalf of the Renewed Hope Initiative, announced a donation of ₦1 billion to the National Cancer Fund.
The donation is intended to support ongoing efforts to combat cervical cancer in Nigeria.
Dr Salako, speaking during the visit, acknowledged the First Lady’s instrumental role in the integration of the HPV vaccine into Nigeria’s national immunisation programme.
He disclosed that the Ministry successfully vaccinated 12 million girls aged 9 to 13 within the first nine months of introducing the vaccine and plans to reach another 6 million girls this year.
Echoing the urgency of the campaign, Professor Isaac Adewole, Chair of the Taskforce and former Health Minister, praised Senator Tinubu’s political will in championing the HPV vaccine rollout.
He projected that the “8 by 8” target—eight million girls vaccinated annually—was achievable with her continued advocacy, helping Nigeria meet its goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030.
World Health Organization Country Representative, Dr Walter Mulombo, also appealed to the First Lady to lead the nationwide awareness campaign. He stressed the importance of ensuring every woman and child has the right to health and survival.
The delegation’s visit coincided with the global observance of World Health Day 2025 under the theme Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Future.
As part of the occasion, Senator Tinubu was presented with commemorative WHO souvenirs in recognition of her commitment to women’s health and the fight against cancer.
