The Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation has decried the alarming rate at which thousands of women die of cervical cancer in Nigeria annually.
Speaking at a one-day community engagement on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and cervical cancer prevention in Lokoja, Kogi State, the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs Christy Abayomi Oluwole, said that over 8,000 women die annually from cervical cancer in Nigeria.
While calling on all stakeholders to join hands to support the intake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent the deadly disease, Mrs Oluwole said that in Nigeria, cervical cancer has been recorded as the second most common cancer among women and the fourth most common worldwide.
“We are here this morning to have a community engagement on the introduction of the human papillomavirus vaccine, which will be rolled out on May 27, 2024, in Kogi State and other states in the second phase of the HPV introduction,” she stated.
“The HPV vaccine is to prevent our women and girls from the infection of human papillomavirus, which mainly causes cervical cancer.”
In Nigeria, research has shown that every year, there are approximately 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer, and at least 8,000 women die from the disease annually.
This is why the federal government is passionate about curbing the spread of cervical cancer through the HPV vaccine.
Mrs Oluwole emphasized that the target audience for the intake of the HPV vaccine are girls within the ages of 9 to 14 years.
“We want to ensure that these target girls get vaccinated. All eyes are on deck; the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Federal Ministry of Health, and partners like IVAC are working together to mobilize eligible girls within the age range of 9 to 14 to get vaccinated against HPV, so that the issue of cervical cancer can be minimized in our society and country at large.”
She noted that while HPV affects both males and females, the burden of cervical cancer is the primary concern, which is why the focus is on girls within the age range of 9 to 14 years old, as they are not sexually active and are less exposed to HPV, which is mainly transmitted through sexual contact and body contact.
The Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), Dr. Abubakar Yakubu, appreciated the convener of the meeting, stating that measures have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free campaign.
He added that they have reached out to several groups for proper dissemination of the vaccines across the state and are optimistic that with the preparation in place, they will have a successful vaccine launch.
Dr. Abimbola Adesanya, a consultant with the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, admonished parents not to be scared to have their girl children take the vaccine.
She shared her personal experience of paying for her daughter’s vaccination two years ago and encouraged mothers to ensure their girls receive the vaccine, emphasizing that it is essential for their health.
The Medical Women Association has been appealing to the Federal Government to add this vaccine to the routine, and now that it has been done, they are overjoyed and strongly support the campaign. The human papillomavirus vaccine will be launched on May 27, 2024, in Kogi State. The one-day community engagement had representatives from CPI, Red Cross, WHO, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Medical Women Association of Nigeria, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders in attendance.
