HPV vaccine: Nasarawa residents decry low turnout, record 2,158 vaccination between January, February ***Stakeholders call for increase awareness

By David Odama

Worried by the low turnout and response to the current campaigns on HPV vaccination of girls between the ages of 9-15 years, the Chairperson of Community Link for Health and Family Planning (CLHFPA), Mrs. Mary Ashenanye has called for more proactive and concerted measures to tackle cervical cancer’s devastating impact on women in Nasarawa State.

Speaking at a one day training for media practitioners in Lafia, Mrs Ashenanye stressed the urgent need for more awareness, commitment from government and other relevant s stakeholders in the health sector to collectively engage in the fight against cervical cancer ravaging female children in the country.

While hammering on advocacy and response to vaccination, the retired nursing officer called upon media professionals participating in the training to passionately champion the HPV vaccination drive and increase step up across the State.

In his presentation on overview of the HPV, Ishaya Amegwa, an educator with the state primary health care development Agency, decried the low turnout of the targeted female devasted by the cervical cancer in the state.

According to him, HPV as the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract, mainly transmitted through sexual contact required the involvement of all stakeholders , adding that most people become infected with HPV shortly after the onset of sexual activity.e

“Dspite several campaigns, only 2,158 vaccinations against HPV were recorded between the months of January and February this year across the 13 local government of the state”

Amegwa added that during the year under review, only 2,158 persons were vaccinated across the state, with the state capital Lafia having the least vaccinated of 33 persons.

The health educator who called on parents and other stakeholders to dismiss misconceptions about the vaccine, further made clarification on the efficacy of the vaccine stressing that “it is safe and does not have affect on the reproductive health of women.”

About 80 per cent will die when clinical diseases are discovered in advanced stage, this is how serious it is. It is better to prevent it, “It will reduce 71 deaths annually if we are able to reach our coverage. That is the justification for this vaccine,”, Amegwa. declared.

In a paper presentation entitled “Roles of media and Issue-based Reporting On HPV”, Shimataver Aondoakaa, an assistant Director news with FRCN zonal office, Lafia urged the media to take the HPV campaign beyond reporting personalities, rather focused on issue based.

While stressing the crucial role of the media in combating cervical cancer through HPV vaccination Aondoakaa urged journalists to take advantage of their influence and promote positive behavioral change regarding vaccines and overall health.

He further urged media professionals to promote ideas that would change the society’s negative attitude toward HPV vaccination in the state.

“This initiative is aimed at drastically reduce the incidence of cervical cancer, a leading cause of mortality among women globally, and secure the future health of the state’s female population”..

The training, was in collaboration between CLHFPA and Pathfinder International drew participants from various media establishment.