Nasarawa to fight HPV, launches Vaccine into extended programme on Immunization

By David Odama

LAFIA— Nasarawa State governor Abdullahi Sule has launched the Human Papilloma virus (HPV) Vaccine into the Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the state.

Speaking at the launch of the programme at Government Science Secondary School, Lafia, Governor Abdullahi Sule urged parents and guardians to avail their daughters between the ages of 9 and 14 of the vaccination to prevent against cervical cancer.

Represented by the State deputy governor, Emmanuel Akabe, the governor restated the commitment of the present administration towards providing quality health care for the citizens.

Governor Sule also used the event to reassure Nigerians particularly the resident of Nasarawa that the vaccine is safe, free and available in all medical facilities across the state to be administered to citizens, even as he commended the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the development partners for embarking on exercise.

“It is a demonstration of our continued partnership and indeed, collective efforts in our quest to protect our young girls against the prevalence of cervical cancer disease, As you’re all aware, is a serious, potentially fatal disease that affects 1000s of lives every year, especially females of productive age.

“However, it’s important to note Cervical cancer is a preventable disease, which can be controlled through routine human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine.

“It is for this reason we must utilize the opportunity as critical stakeholders to significantly reduce the prevalence of this disease to protect the lives of our citizens, particularly young girls between the ages of 9 and 14,” Sule noted.

The state commissioner for Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna described cervical cancer as one of the most common form of cancer that affects women thus, must be tackled.

“Cervical cancer globally accounts for a huge number of deaths and is the fourth among the cancers that kill women in the world.

“Back at home Nigeria is the second to breast cancer, most of the women that came down with cervical cancer are been associated with HPV, at times goes on there is now something that can slow down the virus, which can stop the infection of HPV.

“What we are doing here today is cost-effective, preventive, and safe so that we don’t have to wait for treatment or management when cancer has set it.
“Prevention is better than treatment and cure,” the commissioner stated.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Muhammed Usman Adis, commended the Nigerian government, and state government for introducing the HPV vaccine, which will save future generations of Nigerian girls and women.

He further said that the vaccine has a 90 percent guarantee of protecting girls from cervical cancer.

In their goodwill messages, the representatives of World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, National Orientation Agency, CHAI, ALGON and Emir of Lafia pledged their continued support to the expanded immunization programme for the overall wellbeing of young girls and women in the state.