Nasarawa Primary Healthcare begins vaccination to tackle cervical cancer prevalence

By Nath Emberga, Lafia

The Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency (NAPHDA), said it is set to commence the vaccination of female children between the ages of 9 to 14 years against Human Papilloma Virus HPV, also known as cervical cancer to stop the prevalence of the disease in the state.

The executive secretary of the agency, Dr Muhammed Usman Adiz who disclosed this at a one day 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 it was a thing of Joy that the federal government through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), thought it wise to introduce HPV vaccine in the country, saying the vaccine when administered will stop the agony women experience as a result of cervical cancer.

Represented by the deputy director and Programe manager, Nasarawa state emergency routine immunization coordination center, of the agency, Ayuba Ismaila Oko, the Executive secretary explained that Nasarawa state was one of the 16 states that will administer the first batch of the vaccine in the country.

He explained further that the exercise which begins on the 25th September, 2023 will last for seven days and the vaccine last in the body system for a lifetime.

He said after the first batch of the vaccination, the exercise will be a usual routine.

While appreciating the president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the initiative, Adis also thanked the executive secretary of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Fa’sal Shuaib who is an indigene of Nasarawa state 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 for including our state in the first batch.”; Adiz said.

The ES noted that HPV is dangerous in such a way that out of 10 female infected with the disease only 2 might have chances of survival there by causing health unrest among people living with the disease.

On his part, Ezenwanne Christopher, the technical officer of World Health Organisation (WHO) on HPV vaccine introduction in Nasarawa state, said the vaccine 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 a paper presentation, Oko who was also a resource person at the stakeholders engagement meeting said by 2030, 90 percent of girls within the age bracket should be fully vaccinated.

The participants at the engagement meeting, include, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the media among others.