Dr Aisha Mustapha wants you to know that cervical cancer and HPV can be prevented.
As a leading voice in women’s health, cancer prevention, and HPV advocacy, Dr Aisha Mustapha brings a wealth of clinical experience, research insight, and personal commitment to the fight against gynaecologic cancers. An accomplished Gynaecologic Oncologist at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, Kaduna State, she also serves as president of the Kaduna State Branch of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN). She is also the chairman of the MWAN National Working Committee on HPV, cervical cancer, and other cancers. Additionally, she is co-chair of the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS) Training and Capacity Building Committee. She has dedicated her time to standing at the forefront of those fighting against cancer in the Nigerian community.
With the #StopHPVForHer campaign, the message is simple yet powerful: cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable, and access to accurate information can save lives. The goal is to cut through myths and misinformation with clear, science-backed facts — empowering women and families with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about vaccination and screening.
In this exclusive interview in partnership with BellaNaija, Dr Mustapha sheds light on HPV, its critical link to cervical cancer, and the motivations driving her work in advancing awareness, prevention, and care across Nigeria. Our conversation aims to deepen public understanding of the virus and its risks. Learn how you can be part of the movement to protect yourself and others against HPV and cervical cancer.
What is HPV, and how does it relate to cervical cancer?
HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus, which is an extremely common group of viruses. It’s so common that almost every sexually active person will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives. Most of the time, your body’s immune system clears the infection
Naturally, the link to cancer is critical: certain high-risk types of HPV are the cause of virtually all cervical cancers. When these high-risk types persist in the body, they cause abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix, which, over many years, can progress into cancer. Essentially, persistent high-risk HPV causes cervical cancer. This makes it a uniquely preventable cancer because we can target the virus itself.
What inspired you to become an advocate for gynaecologic cancer prevention and care, particularly in the area of HPV awareness?
My commitment to advocacy is deeply personal, forged in the operating room and therecovery ward. As a gynecologic oncology fellow, I see undignified deaths caused by late-stage cervical cancer — a heartbreaking tragedy, given it is preventable. As a survivor, I know the terror of the diagnosis and the urgency of timely treatment. This experience, combined with my HPV research, has turned advocacy from a duty into a moral imperative: to use science and compassion to ensure no woman in Nigeria dies from a disease we already have the tools to eliminate.
How effective is the HPV vaccine, and at what age do you recommend that girls and boys receive it?
The HPV vaccine is one of the most effective cancer-preventing tools ever developed — it is a primary prevention miracle. When administered before exposure to the virus (i.e., before sexual activity), it offers nearly 100% protection against the high-risk HPV types that cause most cervical cancers.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and our National Taskforce for Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE) recommend that the primary target age for vaccination is 9 to 14 years, before the onset of sexual activity, as the immune response is strongest during this window.
While our current national focus in Nigeria is on reaching girls aged 9 years, gender-neutral Vaccination (that is, vaccinating both boys and girls) is also recommended. Vaccinating boys prevents them from getting HPV-related cancers (like head, neck, and anal cancers) and stops them from transmitting the virus, boosting our efforts toward true population-level herd protection. But vaccinating girls at the national level is a good way to start, while we hope that with more resources, the age limit can be reviewed, and boy vaccination can commence. For families that can afford it, I recommend purchasing the vaccine for girls above 9 years old and for boys.
What are the available screening methods for cervical cancer, and how often should women get screened?
There are three primary screening methods, all aimed at finding changes before they become cancer:
HPV DNA Testing (High-Performance Test): This is the best. It is described as the gold standard. It checks for the presence of the high-risk HPV virus itself. If the virus isn’t detected, a woman can typically wait 5 to 10 years before needing another screen.
Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid/Lugol’s Iodine (VIA/VILI): This simple, low-cost method allows a trained provider to see abnormal changes immediately. It’s highly effective for resource-limited settings. If a pre-cancerous lesion is spotted, immediate treatment (like thermocoagulation) can be provided. One of its major drawbacks is over-treatment.
Pap Smear (Cytology): This test looks for abnormal cells but is less sensitive than HPV DNA testing. The WHO recommends that 70% of women be screened with a high-performance test twice in their lifetime, once by age 35 and again by age 45. Our task force also adopts this in the National Screening Guidelines. However, screening guidelines often vary based on the test used, so women should follow the advice of their healthcare provider.
What are the biggest challenges or misconceptions preventing women from getting vaccinated or screened in Nigeria?
Based on our grassroots work at the National Technical Working Group on the HPV Vaccine Introduction (NTWG-HPV VI), the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), and other organisations, the main challenges fall into two main categories:
Misinformation and Societal Barriers: Vaccine Hesitancy: Misconceptions that the HPV vaccine encourages promiscuity or causes infertility are widespread and untrue. We must emphasise it is a cancer prevention tool – a cancer vaccine!
Stigma: Fear and shame prevent many women from seeking screening, especially in culturally conservative settings. We must normalise the conversation around women’s health and advocate for self-sampling techniques to reduce this barrier.
Logistics and Access: There were occasional periods when the vaccines ran out at the Primary Healthcare centres. It is great to state that every PHC across the country currently has the vaccines and is waiting to give 9-year-olds. However, girls in hard-to-reach areas may suffer from a lack of access.
As a survivor yourself, how has your personal experience influenced your approach to patient care and advocacy?
Surviving the earliest possible stage, detected through screening, can only further emphasise the fact that screening saves lives. My diagnosis fundamentally changed my perspective. It transformed the science I practice into an emotional commitment.
As a physician, I understand the disease, but as a survivor and advocate, I understand the terror, the financial devastation, and the agonising delays in treatment—the same delays currently impacting government-funded patients due to budget bottlenecks. This personal journey fuels my advocacy, making me passionately fight not just for effective policy, but for compassionate, timely execution.
What role can communities, schools, and organisations play in increasing HPV awareness and vaccination uptake?
Communities are the frontline fighting this war against HPV:
Schools and Religious Institutions: They are trusted, structured channels. Schools provide the perfect access point for the target age group of 9 years, and religious leaders can be powerful allies in debunking vaccine myths and promoting health.
Traditional Leaders, Associations and Organisations: They should become “Health Champions.” When a local leader endorses the vaccine, the trust level skyrockets. Professional organisations like MWAN, development partners like Pathfinder, and Civil Society Organisations provide the critical logistics and human power to ensure that vaccines get from the cold room shelf into the arm of the child in the most remote village. They also use data to convince people about the safety of the vaccine — with almost 16 million girls vaccinated, no severe adverse event was reported.
Do you feel there are steps health institutions can take to make HPV vaccines and cervical cancer screening more accessible across the country?
Absolutely. Accessibility isn’t just about availability; it’s about integration and convenience. While looking forward to the commencement of the National organised screening program by NICRAT, we can:
Decentralised Services: Screening and vaccination must be integrated into Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), not just specialised hospitals. PHCs are closer to the people.
Leverage Technology: Utilise high-performance self-sampling kits for HPV testing. This allows women in remote areas to collect a sample privately and submit it for laboratory analysis, drastically reducing the barrier of requiring a clinical examination.
Increase Mobile Outreach: We need to fully fund and sustain mobile outreach teams, particularly those run by organisations like MWAN, to take the ‘Screen and Save’ service directly to marketplaces, churches, mosques, and rural community centres through mobile outreach units.
Could you share some insights from your current research or clinical work that give you hope for the future of HPV prevention and control?
My greatest hope comes from the data showing Nigeria’s capacity. The fact that we have already vaccinated over 15.6 million girls as of October 2025 in a relatively short time shows we have the political will, the operational network, and the sheer scale required to meet the 2030 targets.
Furthermore, the shift toward HPV DNA testing via self-sampling is a game-changer. It is a highly accurate test that overcomes cultural and logistical barriers simultaneously. Investing in this technology, alongside our mass vaccination drives, ensures that we are deploying the most powerful, modern tools available to secure a cancer-free future for our daughters.
What message would you like to leave for women and young girls about protecting themselves from HPV and cervical cancer?
The message is for everyone; however, the mother-daughter pair makes a good advocacy tool for vaccination and screening. To every woman and young girl: Cervical cancer is preventable and curable, and to every man, support the women and girls around you to get these interventions. To the boy child, support the girls and look forward to your vaccinations too.
Let’s all embrace the HPV vaccine. It is the single most important decision you can make to protect a young girl’s future health. It is a vaccine against cancer diagnosis.
Dear women, do not wait for symptoms. Screening is your power. Seek out the nearest available screening service. Early detection means immediate treatment, and treatment means a cure. Your health matters.
Get Aware, Get Vaccinated. Get Screened and Treated.
With unified action, we can eliminate cervical cancer in Nigeria.
Read more: Debunking myths about the HPV vaccine
