The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Yobe government, have launched the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, HPVV, campaign against cervical cancer.
The vaccination campaign is targeted at female children between the ages of 9 and 14 years old.
Yobe State coordinator, WHO, Dr Alhassan Hamisu Dama, said cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among women aged 15-49 years in Nigeria, contributing to an estimated 12,075 new cases of global cervical cancer every year.
“The Human HPV infection has been identified as a high-risk factor implicated in 95% of cervical cancer. Studies also show that vaccination against HPV infection can reduce incidence by 83% among girls aged 13-19 years.
“As we flag off this campaign, 565 schools and community teams will work across Yobe state to vaccinate girls aged 9-14 years across schools and out-of-school camps in Yobe state for the next five days, Dr Dama said.
“From the pre-implementation training at the national, state, LGA and ward levels to implementation and post-implementation activities including post-campaign spot-checks, WHO will be spending money to ensure the state successfully conducts this campaign,” he said.
“I want to say as the global technical lead for health, we will continue to support every effort of the Yobe state government in improving the health and wellbeing of its people,” the WHO coordinator stated.
Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Muhammad Lawan Gana reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage and sustainable health development goals.
The state Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hajiya Ya Jalo Badama, who declared the formal inclusion of the HPV vaccine into routine immunization programs, lauded the collaborative efforts of the government and development partners in providing protection against cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers.
WHO, Yobe govt kick of HPV vaccination, target female children
