Imo Govt flags off Human Papilloma Virus vaccination

By Jude Onyenedogha

Imo State Government, Monday flagged off the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination for girl children aged between nine and fourteen years.

In her address at the occasion, wife of the governor, Lady Barr. Chioma Uzodimma, who was represented by the deputy governor, Lady (Dr) Chinyere Ekomaru described Cervical Cancer as the fourth most common Cancer in women globally and the second most common Cancer affecting women in Nigeria. She added that Human Papilloma Virus is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract and causes more than 95 percent cases of Cervical Cancer.

She said the high burden of Cervical Cancer is majorly attributed to poor access to HPV vaccine services, saying that introduction of the vaccine in Nigeria is essential to prevent Cervical Cancer and reduce burden of the disease.

“The vaccine has shown to be safe and effective and they have been paid for, so our citizens can get them free of charge. The goal is to reduce Cervical Cancer and death associated with it in the state”.

While describing the participants as mobilizers, the deputy governor urged them to get the right information about the vaccine, so they could be able to create awareness and educate the citizens on its benefits and counteract any negative rumour that could affect success of the programme.

In her address, the Executive Secretary, Imo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Rev. Sis. (Dr.) Joannes Uzoma expressed excitement that Imo State was able to join the rest of the twenty states to launch the human Papilloma Virus vaccine which is targeted at young girls, aged between nine to 14 years.

She said the cancer is contracted through sexual intercourse and once contracted, the vaccine will not be effective on the patient, reason the vaccine is targeted at young girls aged between nine and 14 years old who presumably have not started having sexual intercourse.

“This vaccine is very very safe and effective. Don’t mind the rumour. This vaccine has been in existence for a long time now, just that the federal government and the donor partners decided to bring it into Nigeria at this time. It is not a new vaccine at all. It has been there for a very long time”.

The Executive Secretary said the agency and its partners has done enough sensitization about the vaccine, adding that after the flag off, trained health officers will go to; houses, churches, schools, mosques, markets, health centers and all places where children of the desired age group could be located.

“We intend to routinize it. After this week we will start giving it as part of our routine immunization”

In their separate speeches, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Success Ohayagha, his Education counterpart, Prof Jonhcliff Nwadike, as well as partners who delivered goodwill messages, appreciated the federal and state governments, the World Health Organization, and all partners who contributed to make the flag off a reality.

They said with the programme, Imolites can be sure to have healthy women, wives and female leaders in the nearest future, as according to them, the programme is the greatest gift the government could give to the young girls, because if they are not taken proper care of, the society will have problem in the future.