By Joseph Erunke,Abuja

The federal government has constituted a 15-member taskforce for elimination of cervical cancer in the country.

The National Task Force Committee for Elimination of Cervical Cancer, as called,was constituted in Abuja, by the Ministeri of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

He explainrd that the formation of the committee which has the former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, as the chairman, aligns with the National Strategic Plan for Control of Cervical Cancer 2023-2027, specifically in achieving the ambitious target of screening 50 percent of eligible women, at least, once in their lifetime and treating 100 percent of precancerous lesions detected by 2027.

The Minister disclosed that the Task Force Committee is charged with the responsibility of providing expert guidance, mobilizing resources, and leading a comprehensive national effort to reduce the burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria drastically.

The Task Force Committee, comprised of prominent Nigerians, has a globally renowned cancer advocate, Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, as its Vice Chairman while Prof Sani A. Malami, is to serve as its Secretary.

The Committee’s terms of reference, the Minister said, include mobilizing potential stakeholders and partners and gaining their buy-in to support the nationwide campaign for the screening and treatment of cervical cancer; establishing a ‘basket-fund’ to pool and administer funds/donations/grants secured from the government, private sector, philanthropic organizations, development partners and NGOs for the effective implementation of the program; establish screening protocols and algorithms using HPV testing or other high-performance methods and develop clear referral pathways for women with positive test results.

Other terms of reference include developing and implementing the training of public and private healthcare providers in cervical cancer screening and treatment in the six geo-political zones; collaborating with the relevant national and sub-national agencies to provide the infrastructural requirement for sampling, testing, and treatment and to design and execute communication strategies to educate women and communities about cervical cancer and establish a partnership with community leaders and influencers to promote the uptake of screening and treatment.

The Task Force Committee is also expected to submit quarterly reports through the Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, on progress, challenges, and achievements.

The 15 members of the NTF-CCE are Prof Isaac F Adewole, Chairman; Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, Vice Chairman; Dr. Usman Waziri Mohammed, Dr. Yinka Olaniyan, Prof Okechukwu Ikpeze, Dr. Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, Dr. Lolade Adeyemi, Prof Mukhtar Gadanya, and Prof Imran-Morhasson-Bello.

Other members include Dr. Rakiya Saidu, Dr Nwamaka Lasebikan, Prof Ima-Obong Ekanem, Chief (Mrs) Moji Makanjuola, Dr Garba Bakunawa, and Prof Sani A. Malami.