From June to November 2025, the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), in partnership with VillageReach and with funding support from GAVI, is providing critical technical assistance across FCT, Kano, Lagos, and Enugu States to strengthen the scale-up and sustainability of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine delivery, focusing on adolescent girls aged 9 years.
This initiative prioritizes enhanced coordination among key stakeholders including the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA); improved service delivery, demand generation through advocacy, communication, and social mobilization (ACSM), capacity building for health workers, and robust data management systems. These efforts align closely with national and state health priorities and are especially vital during key campaigns such as the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Week and the Green October Drive -an intensified campaign to raise awareness and increase HPV vaccine uptake.
As part of this initiative, ARFH’s HPV Vaccine technical assistance team, led by the CEO Dr. Kehinde Osinowo and Project Coordinator Nasa Oyelade, recently conducted high-level advocacy visits to Enugu State during the state’s MNCH Week from June 18 to 21, 2025. The team engaged key government officials, implementing partners, and other stakeholders to reinforce multisectoral commitment and address challenges impacting vaccine coverage.
Key meetings included strategic discussions with the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Associate Professor Obi Emmanuel Ikechukwu; the Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ifenyinwa Ani-Osheku; the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Associate Professor Hyginus Banko Okibe; and other focal persons.
These engagements emphasized the shared responsibility of the health and education sectors in scaling up HPV vaccination, including the need to strengthen areas where challenges have been identified such as addressing data discrepancies related to uploads on DHIS2 and the importance of demystifying myths and misconceptions surrounding HPV vaccine uptake by empowering each stakeholder to become advocates and champions for the vaccine. This, combined with continued grassroots mobilization and integration of HPV vaccination into public health outreaches, forms the foundation for sustained vaccine acceptance and coverage.
A significant highlight of the visit was Dr. Kehinde Osinowo’s participation alongside state leadership in administering the HPV vaccine to eligible 9-year-old girls during the official MNCH Week flag-off ceremony at Umueze Primary Health Centre, Nkanu-West LGA demonstrating visible leadership and commitment to cervical cancer prevention.
ARFH remains dedicated to working collaboratively with government stakeholders and partners to ensure that no eligible girl is left behind in Nigeria’s journey to eliminate cervical cancer. The advocacy and technical assistance visits will continue to other selected states in the coming weeks to further strengthen HPV vaccine delivery nationwide.
Let’s begin a ripple of change -become a champion for cervical cancer prevention in your community, beginning with your next-door neighbour. Together, we protect every girl’s future.
High-level advocacy to the Commissioner for health 
High-level advocacy to the ES ENSPHCDA
The team at the flag off of the MNCHW
High-level advocacy to the Executive Chairman SUBEB
The CEO at the MNCHW flag off set to vaccinate the girls
Debriefing session with the Enugu state MEL officer on data systems in the state
At the flag off the ES distributing MMS to pregnant women
Still at the flag off, the ES speaking to expectant mothers
The CEO vaccinating the girls with HPV vaccine
The ES vaccinating the girls with HPV vaccine
The CEO adorning the hon minister for health as a HPV vaccine advocate
At the hon minister for health’s office
At the flag off with expectant mothers
