FG to introduce HPV vaccines to prevent cervical cancer

The Federal Government (FG) has unveiled plans to introduce Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to prevent cervical cancer among teenage girls in Nigeria.

The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, made this known while speaking at the Bi-Annual Review Meeting of Religious Leaders on Primary Health Care (PHC) Delivery.

Shuaib on Monday said that the HPV vaccines which will be launched on September 25, 2023 will prevent girls between ages nine and 15 from contracting cervical cancer.

“In our desire to reach every corner, we acknowledge the role religious leaders play. They possess the power to disseminate critical information that can influence behaviour, dispel myths and encourage preventive practice,” Shuaib said.

“Concerning progress on cervical cancer, caused by Human papillomavirus (HPV), on September 25, we’ll introduce HPV vaccine which prevents this cancer when given to girls of nine to 15 years.

“This cervical cancer affecting our mothers, sisters and daughters is caused by HPV,” he said.

Shuaib who represented the Federal Government urged Christian and Muslim leaders to raise awareness about the vaccines, dispel myths and misconceptions and encourage their members to embrace better health behaviour.

Cervical cancer, a type of cancer that develops in a woman’s cervix, is the fourth most common cancer among women globally.

According to experts, in the year 2018 alone, it caused an estimated 311,000 deaths worldwide.

Research by The Lancet also reveals that more than 44 million women globally stand to develop cervical cancer between 2020 and 2069.