The Executive Secretary of Ogun State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, has called on residents of the state to support the successful implementation of the free Human papillomavirus Vaccination programme scheduled to kick off on October 24 across 16 States of the federation.
Ogunsola said that during this vaccination campaign, only girls between the ages of nine to 14 would be given the HPV vaccine which helps to prevent about 95 per cent of cervical cancer cases.
HPV is said to be highly effective and prevent infections from the sexually transmitted Human Papillomavirus which is responsible for about 95 per cent of cervical cancers in women. Cervical cancer accounts for about 17 per cent of cancer cases coming second after breast cancer and kills an average of 300,000 women in Nigeria.
Speaking at a media parley held at the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, on Tuesday, Ogunsola said that against any myth, misconception or misinformation about the new vaccine, it is safe, free and would really help to bring down the cost and burden of managing cancer disease across the country.
He said, “During this vaccination campaign which is starting on October 24, our girls between the ages of nine and 14 are the target, they are believed not to have been sexually active because this vaccination is about prevention from the infection of the Human papillomavirus which is sexually transmitted and causes cervical cancer.
“This vaccination campaign is about securing the future of our young girls against the heavy burden of cervical cancer and the vaccine is safe. Our parents and guardians should allow their female children to take this vaccine because it is safe. Both the federal and state governments have committed a lot of resources to this programme and we should not allow this waste.
“A shot of this vaccine costs over N50,000 outside and you will have to take two which is over N100,000 but the type being given by the government is superior. It required just a shot and you are good to go. So, we should all support the government to make this campaign a success and of course, further drive down incidences of cervical cancer in the country.”
Speaking at the event, the Director, Ogun State Primary Health Care, Dr Salmat Sanni, added that Ogun state is among the 16 states chosen by the Federal Government for the first phase of the vaccination programme.
Sanni said that the state is targeting about 500,000 girls for the first phase of the vaccination programme.
She noted that the health officials will be going to both private and public schools, churches, mosques, and homes to administer the vaccine while people can also get vaccinated in government health centres across the state.
Like any other vaccine, HPV, she said may however cause very minimal side effects which are temporary such as pain, mild fever, headaches, redness or swelling of the injection site, and fatigue among others. However, cases of severe side effects which are very rare should be reported to the appropriate health facility.
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