Stakeholders in the health sector in Bauchi and Jigawa have expressed joy over the high turnout in the ongoing Human Papillomavirus, HPV, vaccination exercise in the states.
The stakeholders including health experts, activists and government officials, spoke while reacting to the HPV vaccination exercise in Bauchi, Dutse and Gombe.
They said the feat would enhance awareness on the symptoms, preventive tips and case management of the diseases in the country.
According to Planned Parenthood Organisation, HPV is the most common Sexually Transmitted Infection, STI, it is usually harmless and goes away by itself, but some types can lead to cancer or genital warts.
The disease infects genital area including vulva; vagina, cervix, rectum, anus, penis, scrotum, mouth and throat.
Other types of HPV cause common diseases like hand and plantar warts on the feet – but these aren’t sexually transmitted.
Some of the disease could be prevented by vaccine, while it could be chronic and requires medical diagnosis to cure.
In Nigeria, more than 1.5 million cases of HPV are being recorded annually.
To stem the dreaded disease, the Federal Government initiated a comprehensive vaccination exercise targeting millions of girls age between nine and 14.
The exercise is billed to hold simultaneously between October and November, across 16 selected states in the country.
Malami Danjuma, the Health Education Officer in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, said the state witnessed impressive turnout in the ongoing HPV vaccination exercise, especially at the grassroots.
He said that about 31,350 out of the 48,000 targeted girls had been inoculated against the virus to protect them against Cervical cancer when they reach reproductive age.
“We are even running out of vaccines because of the high turnout,” he said.
Mr Danjuma attributed the feat to effective sensitisation activities by the Volunteer Community Mobilisers, VCM, groups and others engaged in the pre-rollout activities.
Also, Dr. Emmmanuel Emedo, UNICEF’s Health Specialist, Bauchi Field Office, said the organisation deployed monitoring teams to facilitate smooth conduct of the exercise.
He said the organisation in collaboration with the state government, World Health Organisation, WHO, Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, and other partners were monitoring the exercise across the 20 LGAs of the state.
“The reports we are getting is that there is impressive turnout across the entire state and this has to do with the level of preparedness.
“More importantly, the parents and caregivers, the schools where we find the girls within the age group.
“We also engaged the youths to pass the information, educate their peers and mobilise them for the campaign,” he said.
Mary Paul, Assistant Headmaster, Al-Ihsan Mallawa Primary School Academy, Toro, said that HPV vaccine was administered to about 98 per cent of the girls in the school.
While commending the gesture, Paul called for expansion of the programme to private schools to mobilise participation in the exercise.
HPV Vaccination
More so; about 65,000 girls were being targeted for the HPV vaccination in Jigawa.
Dr Kabir Ibrahim, Permanent Secretary, Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said the exercise was designed to protect girls against Cervical cancer.
Also, the National Orientation Agency, NOA, said it has sensitised people to mobilise participation in the HPV vaccination in the state.
Its Director, Shuaibu Karamba, said the agency engaged community and religious leaders in the sensitisation exercise conducted between Oct. 24 and 28 across the 27 LGAs of the state.
He said that health seeking behaviour, if supported by religious teachings, propel wider acceptance by the people.
The NOA official said that such awareness creation would address misinformation and misconception about the HPV vaccine.
In the same vein, Dr Habu Dahiru, the Gombe Commissioner for Health, urged residents of the state to accept the HPV vaccine to prevent the risk of contracting Cervical cancer.
According to Dahiru, the vaccine is efficacious in preventing the virus and reduces about 70 per cent of Cervical cancer.
“Cervical cancer is preventable, therefore utilise the opportunity to get your wards vaccinated.
“It is saddening that thousands of women are dying as a result of Cervical cancer due to lack of awareness,” he said.
Also, Murtala Aliyu, Director of Publicity, Nigerian Cancer Society, urged parents to support HPV vaccination for the wellbeing of young girls and women.
According to him, the vaccine plays crucial role in safeguarding public health by preventing HPV related cancers.
On his part, Adaline Wayi, the NOA Director, said the Agecy is yet to begin awareness creation on HPV vaccine because Gombe was not among the 16 participating states in the ongoing exercise.
NAN
