Introduction
Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among Nigerian women, and one of the leading causes of cancer death. Thousands of women die from it every year, many of them mothers in their 30s and 40s.
Yet cervical cancer is one of the few cancers we know how to prevent in most cases. A vaccine for girls, combined with regular screening for women, can stop many cases before they ever start.
What Causes Cervical Cancer?
Almost all cervical cancer is caused by long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is extremely common and passes through intimate skin contact, including sexual contact. Most sexually active adults will encounter it at some point in their lives, usually without knowing, and the body clears most infections on its own.
In a small number of women, the infection stays for years and slowly changes the cells of the cervix (the neck of the womb). These changes typically take 10 to 20 years or longer to become cancer, although progression can sometimes happen faster. This gives us a valuable window to find and treat them early.
Having HPV is not a sign of anything shameful. It is simply a very common virus.
Things that raise the risk of cervical cancer include smoking, living with HIV, and not receiving regular screening. Women living with HIV face a particularly higher risk because their immune systems may have more difficulty clearing HPV infections.
The HPV Vaccine: Protection for Our Daughters
In 2023, Nigeria added the HPV vaccine to its routine immunisation programme for girls aged 9 to 14. It is available free through government vaccination programmes, including participating health facilities and school campaigns.
A single dose provides strong protection against the HPV types responsible for most cervical cancers.
Here is what parents should know:
It works best before exposure to HPV, which is why it is given to young girls.
It is safe and effective, with extensive safety monitoring and use worldwide.
A single dose provides strong protection, although girls with certain immune conditions may need additional doses.
It does not cause infertility or encourage early sexual activity. These are myths that should not prevent parents from protecting their daughters.
Ask at your nearest primary health care centre if your daughter has not yet been vaccinated.
The HPV vaccine is one of the most important steps parents can take to protect their daughters from cervical cancer later in life.
However, vaccination does not replace cervical cancer screening when a girl becomes an adult.
Screening: Finding Changes Before They Become Cancer
Screening looks for HPV infection or early changes in the cervix before they develop into cancer. It is usually quick, takes only a few minutes, and is performed by a trained health worker, often a woman.
There are three main screening methods:
VIA (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid): A simple test using a diluted vinegar solution to identify suspicious changes on the cervix. It is available in many Nigerian health facilities and can provide results the same day.
Pap Smear: Cells are collected from the cervix and examined in a laboratory for abnormal changes.
HPV Test: Checks for high-risk types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. Some screening programmes allow women to collect their own vaginal sample.
When Should Women Start Screening?
The recommended age and frequency depend on a woman's health and the screening method used.
For most women:
Begin regular cervical cancer screening from age 30.
When using HPV testing, screening is generally recommended every 5 to 10 years if results are negative.
Other screening methods may require shorter intervals, depending on local guidelines.
For women living with HIV:
Begin screening earlier, from age 25.
HPV-based screening is generally recommended every 3 to 5 years when results are negative.
More frequent follow-up may be needed if abnormal results are found.
Women living with HIV should not wait 10 years between screening tests because they face a higher risk of cervical cancer.
Ask at a general hospital, primary health care centre, or family planning clinic in Gombe State about available screening services.
If early abnormal changes are found, they can often be treated with a short, simple procedure, sometimes on the same day following appropriate assessment.
This is prevention, not cancer treatment. Detecting and treating precancerous changes early can stop cancer from developing.
Warning Signs: Don't Ignore Them
Early cervical changes usually cause no symptoms, which is why screening matters.
However, cervical cancer may cause warning signs as it develops.
See a doctor if you notice:
Bleeding after sex
Bleeding between periods
Any bleeding after menopause
Unusual or bad-smelling vaginal discharge
Persistent pain in the lower belly or pelvis
Pain during sex
These signs have many possible causes, and most are not cancer, but they always deserve to be checked.
Do not wait for symptoms before getting screened. By the time cervical cancer causes noticeable symptoms, the disease may already be more advanced.
If you experience unusual bleeding or other warning signs, seek medical evaluation rather than waiting for your next routine screening appointment.
Why Women Delay and Why They Shouldn't
Many Nigerian women never get screened because of shyness, fear of the result, cost, or simply not knowing the test exists.
Some worry about discussing reproductive health with a healthcare professional. Others wait until symptoms become severe, when treatment may be much harder.
In communities across Gombe State and Northern Nigeria, these concerns can prevent women from seeking potentially lifesaving care.
But screening is a normal, responsible part of protecting your health.
Husbands, mothers, sisters, and friends can make a real difference by encouraging screening, offering to accompany loved ones, and helping women feel comfortable seeking care.
Women should also feel free to ask whether a female healthcare professional is available to perform the examination.
Protecting women's health benefits the entire family.
Conclusion
Cervical cancer does not have to take Nigerian mothers, sisters, and daughters.
With HPV vaccination, regular screening, and early treatment of abnormal cervical changes, most cases can be prevented.
Remember these important steps:
Vaccinate girls aged 9 to 14 against HPV.
Begin cervical cancer screening from age 30, or age 25 for women living with HIV.
Follow the recommended screening interval for your individual health needs.
Never ignore unusual vaginal bleeding or persistent pelvic pain.
Encourage the women in your family and community to get screened.
Early detection saves lives, and prevention begins with awareness.
At Amkamed Pharmaceuticals, Gombe State, we believe every woman deserves access to reliable health information, respectful guidance, and professional care.
If you have questions about HPV vaccination, cervical cancer prevention, or where to access screening services in Gombe State, speak privately with our pharmacists. We are here to help you make informed decisions about your health without judgement.
Have questions about HPV vaccination or cervical cancer screening?
Visit Amkamed Pharmaceuticals, Gombe State, for trusted pharmaceutical advice and guidance.
References
Gaps and barriers preventing sustained delivery of HPV vaccination in Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos states: An exploratory qualitative study.PloS One. 2026. Ezechukwu C, Ayandipo EO, Osoteku D, et al.Recent
Associations of socioeconomic factors with parents’ awareness and acceptability of HPV vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa - a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Public Health. 2025. John A, Abbah AP, Sandøy IF.SR
Understanding factors influencing HPV vaccine uptake among caregivers in Kwara State, Nigeria: A qualitative study.PloS One. 2026. Muhammad-Olodo AO, Asher L.Recent
Parental perspectives on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of school-aged girls in Ilishan, Nigeria: A qualitative study protocol.PloS One. 2025. Sanjo-Odutayo A, Oyibo P, Eyawo O.Recent
Evidence to Action — Single-Dose HPV Vaccination and Cervical HPV Infection.The New England Journal of Medicine. 2025. Barnabas RV.RecentOpinion
Noninferiority of One HPV Vaccine Dose to Two Doses.The New England Journal of Medicine. 2025. Kreimer AR, Porras C, Liu D, et al.RecentClinical Trial
Durability of single-dose HPV vaccination in young Kenyan women: randomized controlled trial 3-year results.Nature Medicine. 2023. Barnabas RV, Brown ER, Onono MA, et al.RCT
Systems serology analysis shows IgG1 and IgG3 memory responses six years after one dose of quadrivalent HPV vaccine.Nature Communications. 2025. Quang C, Anderson J, Russell FM, et al.
Efficacy and durability of immediate versus delayed single-dose HPV vaccination for persistent infection among young women in Kenya: a randomized, blinded, cross-over clinical trial.Nature Communications. 2026. Barnabas RV, Brown ER, Bukusi EA, et al.RecentRCT
The cervicovaginal microbiome: an emerging determinant of HPV infection and disease.Journal of Virology. 2026. Spurgeon ME.RecentReview
Human Papillomavirus: Screening, Testing, and Prevention.American Family Physician. 2021. Quinlan JD.Review
Screening for the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer: protocol for systematic reviews to inform Canadian recommendations.Systematic Reviews. 2021. Gates A, Pillay J, Reynolds D, et al.
Clinical implications of (epi)genetic changes in HPV-induced cervical precancerous lesions.Nature Reviews. Cancer. 2014. Steenbergen RD, Snijders PJ, Heideman DA, Meijer CJ.Review
Persistence and clearance rates of human papillomaviruses in a cohort of women treated or not treated for cervical dysplasia in northwest Ethiopia.Scientific Reports. 2025. Abate A, Munshea A, Nibret E, et al.
Role of NTRK Fusion Genes in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment of HPV (+/−) Cervical Cancer.Journal of Medical Virology. 2025. Wang Q, Zhang C, Liu S, et al.Review
Benefits and harms of cervical screening, triage and treatment strategies in women living with HIV.Nature Medicine. 2023. Hall MT, Simms KT, Murray JM, et al.
Risk factors for human papillomavirus infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer: an umbrella review and follow-up Mendelian randomisation studies.BMC Medicine. 2023. Bowden SJ, Doulgeraki T, Bouras E, et al.SR
Cervical Cancer.Lancet. 2019. Cohen PA, Jhingran A, Oaknin A, Denny L.Review
Effectiveness of integrating cervical cancer prevention strategies into HIV care programmes: A mixed-methods systematic review protocol.PloS One. 2024. Govindsamy K, Noll S, Blose N, Amponsah-Dacosta E.
A Systematic Review of the Association Between Smoking Exposure and HPV-related Cervical Cell Abnormality Among Women Living With HIV: Implications for Prevention Strategies.Preventive Medicine. 2023. Zhao R, Sekar P, Bennis SL, Kulasingam S.SR
Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents With HIV.Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council (2026). 2026. Constance Benson, John Brooks, Shireesha Dhanireddy, et alGuideline
Non-invasive host transcriptome and HPV oncogene expression map the molecular landscape of HPV-driven cervical lesions.PloS One. 2025. Ayass MA, Zaman N, Griko N, et al.
Advancing the elimination of cervical cancer across Africa.Nature Communications. 2026. Osafo KS, Zhang Y, Obiri-Yeboah D, et al.RecentReview
Cervical Cancer Screening Updates—Focus on Self-Collected Primary Human Papillomavirus Testing.JAMA Internal Medicine. 2026. Holt HK, Kislovskiy Y, Sawaya GF.RecentReview
The IARC Perspective on Cervical Cancer Screening.The New England Journal of Medicine. 2021. Bouvard V, Wentzensen N, Mackie A, et al.Review
Cervical Cancer in Women With HIV: A Call to Action for Equitable Prevention in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries.BioMed Research International. 2025. Klutse J, Tay YA, Attoh DA, et al.Review