Progress, however, is beginning to take shape. According to Zweli Bashman, Managing Director of MSD for South Africa and the sub-Saharan Africa region, Nigeria’s journey toward a structured cervical cancer control plan began nearly a decade ago, between 2014 and 2015. After years of discussions, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme was officially rolled out in 2023. Since then, more than 14 million Nigerian girls have been vaccinated, making the country one of the largest contributors to HPV vaccine uptake globally.
“Nigeria has become the biggest volume-contributing market from an HPV vaccine perspective,” Bashman noted in an interview with The Guardian. “That is incredible; in such a short period of time, we are already discussing how to escalate and speed up progress in the years ahead.”
While this milestone is encouraging, Bashman emphasized that efforts should not end with adolescent girls. He called for expanded vaccination programmes to include mid-adult women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, who also face significant risks, as well as boys, who can carry and transmit the virus. He also highlighted the importance of introducing advanced vaccines such as the nonavalent HPV vaccine, widely used in the Western world for broader protection.
MSD, which maintains partnerships with UNICEF and Gavi, has been supplying HPV vaccines to more than 30 African countries at subsidized rates to ensure equitable access. Bashman revealed that in 2024 alone, about 17 million girls across the continent were reached through these efforts, describing the initiative as “the gold standard” for access-driven healthcare partnerships.
Beyond HPV, the pharmaceutical giant is positioning itself as a leader in addressing broader unmet health needs. Bashman disclosed that MSD has successfully registered its flagship oncology product—an immuno-oncology therapy that is currently the number one pharmaceutical product worldwide—in Nigeria, with plans for a formal launch later this year. The company is also preparing to introduce a wave of new products in areas including oncology, immunology, cardiovascular disease, and ophthalmology, with more than 60 new assets expected in the next five years.
Another area of growing focus is respiratory health. MSD recently secured approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine, which protects infants from a major respiratory disease responsible for high rates of paediatric mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Bashman said the company is planning for an expedited rollout across the continent, given the potentially life-saving impact.
He concluded with a strong call for Nigeria to embrace innovation as it works to transform its healthcare landscape. “We need to leverage innovative medicines to revolutionize oncology and other critical areas,” he said, stressing that partnerships and science-driven solutions will be vital in reshaping outcomes for millions of patients.