Nigeria targets girls 9 – 14 years for HPV vaccination beginning in May.

The National Primary Health care Board,  is to begin the 2^nd Phase campaign and vaccination of Human PapillomaVirus Vaccination on young girls between ages 9 to 14 in May 2024.

Oyo State Health Immunisation Officer, UNICEF,  Mrs Janet Tanimola, who made this known during an advocacy meeting on HPV Vaccine, in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, said,

Phase one campaign and vaccination started in October 2023 in 16 states, the phase two will take care of those who were not eligible to ensure no girl child of that age is missed.

“ We want to ensure that as many girls as possible are vaccinated because by 2025 eligible girls will have to visit the PHCs for vaccination as it will no longer be at designated points “. Adding that whoever is missed, should visit any health facilities close to them “. She explained

The Commissioner for Information, Oyo State, Prince Dotun Oyelade, in a message to the occasion, said,  the reason for engaging the media on the campaign was for the interest journalists have on protecting the interest of women and girls welfare in the country.

“ The role of media in attitudinal change in the society is important to the success of this exercise and the training to is key because to give the right information, journalists must know the issues to report and educate convincingly “. Oyelade

He urged the women journalists to support in extending the campaign through their reportage for acceptability having created the much needed awareness about the vaccine.

Prince Oyelade ‘s message was delivered by the Director, Press and Public Relations UNICEF, Director, Oyo State, Mr Rotimi Babalola.

UNICEF Monitoring and Evacuation Specialist Mr Olusola Olaonipekun, urged the media to spread the message in ensuring girls of that age bracelet vaccinated.

According to him, the media report will help parents and girls to know about issues of HPV vaccination and the benefits therein.

In his presentation, Mr Olaoye Olarinde, an Health Educator, expressed dismay, the high rate and heavy burden of cervical cancer cases in Nigeria every year.

Olarinde, of the Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, stated that 12, 075 new cases are recorded every year and 8,000 persons die from cervical cancer every year.

He defined HPV as a sexually transmitted infection that affects the internal and external areas of the woman’s genitalia and the disease is usually transmitted through skin-to-skin contact.

“ The risk factors include presence of untreated infections, underage pregnancy, multiple partners and smoking “. Olarinde said

“Sadly, Nigeria carries a heavy burden with high number of cervical cancer cases.

“Cervical cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the cervix, adding that, In Nigeria cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in women.

According to Olarinde, “We have 12,075 new cases every year and about 8,000 deaths annually in Nigeria. Now, that is huge,”

“ The only way to prevent the cancer is to get the HPV vaccine, nothing that,  it is important to sensitize Nigerians on the need to get vaccinated.

He noted that, myths, misinformation and misconceptions about the vaccine have posed serious challenge to the uptake of the HPV vaccine.

“The most important thing is sensitization. It is when people know about the disease, that’s when they know how to care for it and also prevent it, which is very important and that’s when the issue of vaccination comes in “. Olarinde

“We’re counting on you (journalists) to help spread the news so that our people can get the facts right and make an informed decision about getting vaccinated,” he appealed

He explained that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has targeted that by 2030, 80 percent of the girl child should have been vaccinated before the age of 15.

According to him, Nigeria launched the HPV vaccine in 16 TV states in October 2023, while the remaining 21 states will be launched in May 2024, pointing out that, the vaccine named “Gardasil-4”, have been designed to be a one-doze vaccine “which will protect you from cervical cancer”.

Olarinde added that after the launch, the vaccine will be introduced as a routine immunisation in 2025.

He disclosed that for now, a Structured School and Community Outreach approach would be used in the vaccination exercise just as out-of-school children will also be captured.

Earlier, in a goodwill message, B Zone Chairperson, NAWOJ, Mrs Adeola Adekunle, appreciated UNICEF and the Oyo State Ministry of Information teams for supporting women journalists across the South-West Zone.

Adekunle assured the team of a robust reportage to protect the girl child from having cancers and to live a  healthy life.