Nigeria has the highest number of cervical cancer cases in Africa and is ranked seventh in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Each year, about 12,000 Nigerian women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and over 8,000 die from it.
At the African Health Business (AHB) symposium held in Abuja, the Managing Director of MSD for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Zweli Bashman, praised Nigeria’s fast rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which started nationwide in 2023.
He said more than 14 million girls have received the HPV vaccine, calling it a major success. “Nigeria is now leading in HPV vaccine use in Africa,” Bashman said.
However, he warned that more needs to be done. He urged the government to include older women and boys in the vaccination programme. “Boys also spread the virus. If we vaccinate them too, it helps protect everyone,” he said, pointing to Cameroon’s success after including both boys and girls in the programme. He also revealed that he had taken the vaccine himself.
Bashman dismissed rumours that the vaccine causes infertility, saying such claims are false and not backed by science. “The HPV vaccine is safe. It has passed many global tests and has been approved by Nigeria’s drug agency, NAFDAC,” he said.
He announced that MSD would soon introduce a new cancer treatment in Nigeria. The drug, which treats 27 types of cancer, is especially important in Nigeria, where many breast cancer patients have a tough-to-treat type called triple-negative breast cancer.
Thanks to a new African Medicines Agency (AMA), MSD can now get approval for its drugs in many countries through a single process. This means faster access to life-saving medicines in Africa.
Bashman encouraged African governments to learn from Botswana’s example. He said Botswana was able to make one of MSD’s cancer drugs available nationwide through a strong partnership between government and private sector. “Don’t assume you can’t afford it. Talk to the company first,” he advised.
MSD is also running clinical trials in Kenya and Uganda and plans to expand to Nigeria and Ghana. Bashman explained that testing medicines in Africa is important because of the continent’s wide genetic diversity.
In addition to the HPV vaccine and cancer treatments, MSD is preparing to introduce a new vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a virus that kills many babies in Africa.
The company is also active in charity work. Through the Mectizan Donation Program, it gives free medicine for river blindness, and through the MSD for Mothers programme, it supports better care for pregnant women. Nigeria is a major beneficiary of both programmes.
Bashman stressed that ending cervical cancer in Nigeria will require everyone working together. “Government, private companies, and civil society must join hands. That’s the only way we can reach every woman and every child,” he said.
He added that MSD remains committed to supporting Nigeria and other African countries in their efforts to improve healthcare through innovation, access, and strong partnerships.