Kwara Begins HPV Vaccination May 27
*Targets 311,000 Girls – Official
The Kwara Government says it has concluded plans to vaccinate 311,000 girls between the ages of nine and 14 against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Oguntoye told journalists on the sideline of an engagement with media stakeholders, on the introduction of the vaccine, that the exercise would begin on May 27 and would last for five days.
The media engagement was organised by John Snow Incorporated (JSI), with support from HPV Vaccine Acceleration Programme Partners Initiative (HAPPI) Consortium, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Oguntoye said that the vaccination exercise was initiated by the Federal Government, with support from JSI, HAPPI and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
He added that the five-day campaign, which would be inaugurated by the wife of Kwara governor, Dr Olufolake AbdulRazaq, would target both school and out-of-school girls.
“The HPV vaccine will be available across all primary health care facilities in the state.
“The vaccine is safe, efficacious and is not an attempt to reduce population or family planning strategy,” he said.
In her remarks, Dr Dupe Shittu, Social Mobilisation Officer, Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, described HPV as a group of viruses that could infect the genital areas of both men and women.
She explained that while many HPV infections go away on their own, certain strains of the virus could lead to more serious health issues.
“One of the most concerning outcomes of persistent HPV infection is cervical cancer.
“Cervical cancer affects women globally, and sadly, Nigeria is no exception.
“Our nation carries a heavy burden of cervical cancer cases, impacting the lives of our mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives,” she said.
