Nasarawa vows to tackle cervical cancer reduction by 90 percent, To vaccinate 9 to 14 female minors against HPA

By David Okpashi

LAFIA — Concerned by the high prevalence rate of Human Papilloma Virus HPV in Nigeria. the Nasarawa State primary Health Care Development Agency (NAPHDA) has promised to reduce Cervical Cancer disease by 90 percent in the state.

To ensure a remarkable reduction in mortality rate of women in the State, vaccines have been procured for the vaccination of the.

Recalled that the Federal Government has commenced vaccination exercise of young girls between the ages of 9 – 14 years against the Human Papilloma Virus responsible for cervical cancer in women.

Also recalled that in Nigeria, an estimated 14,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and over 7,900 women die from the disease every year in the country.

HPV is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract, mainly transmitted through sexual contact, and most people become infected with HPV shortly after the onset of sexual activity.

Speaking at a One-day stakeholders engagement meeting for the introduction of the HPV vaccine in Lafia Thursday,
the executive secretary of the agency, Dr Muhammed Usman Adiz said engagement meeting with stakeholders on the introduction of Human Papilloma Virus HPV, (cervical cancer) organized by the NAPHDA in partnership with CLITON Health Access Initiative, WHO and HAPPI on Thursday in Lafia said cervical cancer which is a deadly disease needs to be completely eradicated.

Adiz said the state was appreciative that the federal government through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), thought it wise to introduce HPV vaccine in the country, explaining that the vaccine when administered will stop the stem women agony being experienced as a result of cervical cancer.

Represented by the deputy director, Immunization Programme Service of the agency, Ayuba Ismaila Oko, the Executive secretary explained that Nasarawa state was one of the 16 states to administer the first batch of the vaccine in the country.
While announcing that the exercise which begins on the 25th september, this year will last for seven days adding that the vaccine last in the body for lifetime.

Adiz who appreciated president Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the initiative, also thanked the executive secretary of the NPHCDA, Dr. Fa’sal Shuaib for including the state in the first batch of the vaccination exercise.

He advised the people of the state to avail their children between the ages of 9-14 to receive the vaccine and be protected from cervical cancer for a healthy living.

“This engagement is in preparation to administer vaccines to protect young girls from the ages of 9 to 14 years from Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) also known as cervical cancer. This is because we know what female of this age go through as a result of the disease.

“We are among the first 16 states in Nigeria that will commence administration of the vaccine. This is commendable. We appreciate President Ahmed Tinubu and of cause our own Dr Fa’sal Shuaib, the Executive secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) for the initiative and including our state in the first batch.”; Adiz said.

The Executive Secretary who noted the danger of HPV said out of 10 female infected with the disease, only 2 have the chances of survival there by causing health unrest among people living with the disease.

On his part, the technical officer of World Health Organisation (WHO) on HPV vaccine introduction in Nasarawa state, Ezenwanne Christopher, explained that the vaccination exercise was important owing to the fact that young female were prune to the dangers of cervical cancer, hence the need for administration of the vaccine.

In his paper presentation, Oko, a resource person at the stakeholders engagement meeting said by 2030, 90 percent of girls within the age bracket would be fully vaccinated.

Participants at the engagement meeting, were drown from Nigerian Labour Congress, Christian Association of Nigeria, the media among others