UNICEF, NAWOJ, others dialogue on success of HPV vaccines

The need for parents to take the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines for their girl child in order to prevent cervical cancer has been stressed.

Olarinde Olaoye Samuel, Oyo State Health Educator, gave the charge in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State at a one day advocacy dialogue meeting with members of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Southwest B Zone on HPV vaccines introduction into routine immunization.

The programme organized by the Oyo State Ministry of Information and Orientation in conjuction with United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) had participants drawn from the six Southwest states namely, Ondo , Osun, Oyo, Ogun , Ekiti and Lagos state.

According to him, in Nigeria, cervical cancer is the second most cancer in women, with about 12,075 new cases every year and 8,000 deaths from the disease each year.

The health educator said Nigeria plan to introduce the HPV vaccine Nationwide in order to reduce morbidity and mobility as a result of cervical cancer.

Olarinde, who said Nigeria launched the vaccine in October last year where 16 States benefitted in the phase 1 disclosed that the phase 2 will be launched 21 States by May 2024.

He explained that the HPV vaccine would be administered on girls from age 9 to 14 during the period of the launch after which the vaccine would now transit into full routine and available in all primary health care centres across the States by 2025 to 9-year old girls only.

But, Adeola Adekunle, NAWOJ Vice President, B Zone, appreciated Oyo State Government and UNICEF for the training, assuring them of more collaboration.

Also speaking, Sola Olanipekun, the planning, monitoring and evaluation officer of UNICEF, urged the participants to use their medium to disseminate the information gathered at the training about the benefit of HPV vaccines to the girl child.