In a move to tackle one of the most preventable causes of cancer among women, lifestyle and media platform BellaNaija has launched the #StopHPVforHer campaign, an awareness drive that is mobilising media, healthcare experts, and influencers to confront the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and related cancers, especially cervical cancer.
Speaking in support of the campaign, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, underscored the importance of awareness in disease prevention.
“Knowledge is power. The more women know about their health, the better, to go for regular screenings, get access to the HPV vaccine, and be in control of their health,” he said.
Since its launch on October 1, the initiative has achieved massive reach, recording over 800 million digital impressions through a blend of films, radio dramas, social media storytelling, and survivor-led advocacy.
The campaign has attracted strong support from notable public figures such as Asherkine, Jemima Osunde, Bambam and Teddy A, and Real Warri Pikin, who have used their platforms to encourage open dialogue about sexual and reproductive health.
Medical professionals including Dr. Babatunde Adewumi, Dr. Kelechi Okoro (Healthertainer), Dr. Ayodele Renner (The Noisy Naija Pediatrician), and Dr. Adefunke Arowolo have also lent their voices, helping to ensure that accurate medical information, not fear or stigma, drives the national conversation.
Through strategic partnerships with organisations such as Project Pink Blue, Medicaid Cancer Foundation, and Sebeccly Cancer Care, BellaNaija’s initiative is extending its impact beyond digital platforms into communities, offering education, support, and advocacy for prevention and early detection.
Film has become one of the campaign’s most powerful storytelling tools. Two recent productions; When Love Returns, which has garnered over 2.6 million views on Omoni Oboli TV, and Healing, a Yoruba-language film on Mobimpe TV, humanise the HPV conversation, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of families dealing with cervical cancer.
On radio, popular voices such as Lolo1, Swit Ope, and Kid Baby featured in a drama titled Ajo Circle, produced by TaymiB, and broadcast across major Lagos radio stations to further reach grassroots audiences.
The campaign’s rise coincides with Nigeria’s ongoing nationwide vaccination programme, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) describes as one of the country’s largest integrated immunisation efforts. The government’s goal is to vaccinate millions of children, including against HPV, a step experts say could drastically reduce cervical cancer rates in the coming years.
