Kwara State government yesterday flagged off second phase of the deadly Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination with about 1,000 schoolgirls within the ages 9-14 screened and given preventive doses as part of events marking this year Children’s Day.
Wife of the governor, Olufolake Abdulrazaq, while emphasising the havoc associated with the sexually transmitted disease noted that the awareness, screening and treatment would mark the state government’s ambition to rid the state of life-threatening disease among the female youths.
She urged traditional rulers to assist the government by aiding its agents and agencies at the rural areas in the spread of the campaign and vaccination.
“The honest involvement of traditional rulers will bring to fore good commitment of the grassroot people to respond to government’s efforts and interventions,” she hoped.
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF’s) country representative, Christian Munduate, while discussing the danger of cervical cancer associated with the HPV, hinted that Nigeria got 14 million doses of the vaccine out of which seven million would be dispensed, adding that 230,000 children were targeted for the immunisation.
Also speaking, the Head of mission and representative, World Health Organisation (WHO) in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, described cervical cancer as a global major killer of women, commending the state government’s awareness action.
He said: “the step you’re taking in Kwara will be remembered because there will be drop in the cases of cervical cancer in future.”
In her speech, the Executive Secretary state’s Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA,) Dr. Nusirat Elelu, at the event held at the Queen Elizabeth school Ilorin, described the program as an endorsement of efforts of the Kwara State Government’s laudable drive in health sector.
She however lamented that: “the HPV is the most common viral pathogen of the reproductive tract that causes range of conditions in men and women including pre-cancerous lesions that may progress to cause cancer.
“The HPST infection is spread through contact with infected genital skin, membranes or bodily fluids, and can be transmitted through sex Intercourse, including oral sex.
Hajia Binta Ismail of the Gavi (the vaccine partner,) foresaw 86 million girls across the world would have contacted the virus by 2025 out of which 16 million would domicile in Nigeria unless prompt actions are taken.
