By Hassan Zaggi
The Federal Government has concluded plans to administer six million doses of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine to young girls between the ages of 9-14 years.
The first phase will be formally launched next week.
This is in an effort to prevent cervical cancer among young girls in the country.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, on Tuesday, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, disclosed that the first phase of the vaccination will encompass 16 states, including Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The second phase, he said, is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024 and will encompass the remaining states including Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogl, Kwara, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
“In each phase, we will initiate a five-day campaign encompassing schools, communities, market places, government-owned health facilities and other public places, targeting girls aged 9 to 14.
“Subsequently, we will continue routine vaccination within health facilities for the same age group.
“By 2025, we anticipate transitioning to full routine immunization with the HPV vaccine, focusing on girls aged 9,” he said.
Dr. Faisal, therefore, appealed to parents, caregivers, and guardians to seize this opportunity and ensure their daughters, aged 9 to 14, receive the HPV vaccine.
In doing so, he said, “we are not only securing their health but also making an indelible contribution to the reduction of cervical cancer in our society.
“I call upon all influential figures within our communities, from religious leaders to traditional leaders, community leaders, school proprietors, civil society organizations and our esteemed media partners, to join us in championing the advantages of this vaccine while dispelling any misconceptions.
“We implore all Nigerians to embrace this opportunity to protect our girls from cervical cancer, as the HPV vaccine is a safe and effective means of cancer prevention.”
Speaking, the Director General of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said that in line with its mandate to protect Public Health,it is committed to ensuring the safety, quality and efficacy of the vaccine, and will continue to monitor its impact and performance in Nigeria.
She lamented that Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has one of the highest cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in the continent, with an estimated 15,000 new cases and 10,000 deaths annually.
Several factors, according to her, contribute to the high disease burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria, such as low awareness, poor screening coverage, limited access to treatment, and high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
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