NIMR warns of rising cervical cancer, antimicrobial resistance threats in Nigeria

Nigeria is facing two major but largely preventable public health threats: cervical cancer and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with researchers warning that poor awareness, late presentation, and poor health practices are driving avoidable deaths and rising treatment failures.

The warning came from scientists at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) during a scientific briefing in Lagos, where findings from recent nationwide and Lagos-based studies were presented.

Oliver Ezechi, director and deputy director-general of NIMR, said cervical cancer continues to claim Nigerian women’s lives daily despite being preventable. “By the end of today, 22 Nigerian women would have died from cervical cancer, while 33 others would have been newly infected,” he said.