Lara Adejoro
The Federal Government has announced that it will commence the second phase of the Human Papillomavirus vaccination on May 27, 2024.
This was disclosed by the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Rufai Garba, in Abuja at a one-day sensitisation programme of the National Association of Women Journalists and Women Religious Groups on the vaccine.
The FG had on October 24, 2023, introduced the first phase of the HPV vaccine into the routine immunisation system, targeting over seven million girls, aged nine to 14 girls, which is the largest number in a single round of HPV vaccination in the African region.
The first phase encompassed 16 states, including Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory.
The second phase is meant to cover the remaining states – Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that is a silent harbinger of several types of cancers, including cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women aged 15 to 49 years, with Nigeria contributing an estimated 12,075 new cases of global cervical cancer annually.
HPV infection has been identified as a high-risk factor, implicated in 95 per cent of cervical cancer cases. With 12,000 new diagnoses and 8,000 lives claimed each year, translating to 33 new cervical cancer cases and 22 deaths every day in the country.
Garba noted that despite the challenges, the country has begun the distribution of vaccine to states, noting that the exercise will commence on May 27.
Every nine to 14-year-old girl deserves protection. HPV vaccine shields them from common strains of HPV that could lead to cervical cancer,” he added.
On Tuesday, the NPHCDA met with traditional and religious leaders to educate them about HPV and the importance of the vaccine.
The agency on its X handle stated that “The @Fmohnigeria, through the @NphcdaNG, in collaboration with development partners is gearing up to introduce the HPV vaccine to Phase 2 implementing states in Nigeria.
“To ensure a smooth rollout, they’re organising a one-day sensitisation meeting with Traditional and Religious leaders. The meeting aims to educate these leaders about HPV and the importance of the vaccine. Additionally, it seeks to garner their support and commitment towards the vaccine rollout in their states.
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