The Ekiti state government said it has concluded arrangements to commence vaccination of female children in the state against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causing cervical cancer.
The vaccination exercise according to the government would commence on Monday 27th May, 2024 in all health facilities across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Director General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Gilbert Seluwa made this known in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday during a coordinating meeting with relevant Stakeholders on Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Introduction for girl child between the ages of 9-14years.
The Director General who was represented by the State Health Educator, Mrs. Olajumoke Oguntoye stated that “the vaccination campaign exercise would run for 5 days, between 27th – 31st May 2024,”
He noted that the HPV vaccine would be administered in primary healthcare facilities, schools, religious centres and communities across the state.
Seluwa outlined the critical role of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer, emphasizing that the vaccine is a preventive measure and not an endorsement of early sexual activity.
ALSO READ: ‘Karma is for poor people’, reactions as Abacha’s daughter stuns in new picture
The DG added that the vaccine would prevent infections from all types of human papillomavirus that commonly caused cervical cancer and other types of HPV-related cancers including cancers of the vulva, vagina and genital warts.
He encouraged parents to release their children to be vaccinated to protect them against cervical cancer, urging them not to be discouraged by false narratives.
In his goodwill message, the representative of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mr. Oluwadamilare Alabi who underscored the importance of stakeholders in the success of the programme, urged them “to fulfill their roles, especially in mobilization and sensitization efforts to educate parents on the importance of allowing their children to take the vaccine.”
He charged the stakeholders to report any rumour concerning the vaccine within their immediate community to the Health Educators, as there has been a history of unnecessary stories fabricated by many social media influencers about new vaccines.
Present at the event were the UNICEF representative, Mr Jimoh Adebisi, State Immunization Officer, Mrs. Omolabake Ogundola, representative of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mr. Bala Mohammed and top government officials from the Agency.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Source: