Parents, Allow your girls within Age 9-14 years receive HPV vaccination – UNICEF

• Calls for more awareness to eliminate cervical cancer in Nigeria

There is an urgent need for all stakeholders to create more awareness to combat the spate of cervical cancer amongst women and the girl child through effective human Papilloma virus vaccination.

These and many more were the thrust of discussion at a two day media dialogue organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund in Lagos.

Gbenga Oluwajana who was a participant reports that the media dialogue with the theme, “Combating The Most Preventable Form Of Deadly Cancer Affecting Women and Girls Through Vaccination”, seeks to intensify awareness of the HPV vaccine and its benefits.

According to UNICEF, after breast cancer, cervical cancer is the second most common and leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Nigeria, particularly among adolescents aged 15 to 44.

Speaking on the importance of HPV vaccination, the Officer in Charge, UNICEF, Lagos office, Mohammed Okorie, urged parents to allow their girl-child within the age limit of 9-14 years take the vaccine.

He noted that 16 states have taken delivery of the first phase of the vaccination exercise, including Ondo state, while 21 states will begin vaccination of girls on May 27, 2024.

“In the country, different cases are reported every year. To ensure that girls are protected against cervical cancer later in life, it is important that they get the HPV vaccine between the ages of 9 and 15, before they are sexually active,” he said

Social and Behaviour Change Specialist, Mrs. Aderonke Arinwole urged the media to demystify and debunk myths and conceptions around HPV.

“Together, we are scripting a narrative of hope, resilience, and a healthier Nigeria”, she said.

Journalists at the workshop visited Eti-Osa local government primary healthcare centre in Lagos to monitor how girls of age 9-14 years were given single dose of the vaccine.

A health worker and a fourteen-year-old girl, John Damilola from Ajah were pleased that the seamless take up of HPV vaccination for the girls.

“It doesn’t cause any harm to the girl-child, rather it prevents her from having the HPV”, she said.

“I am happy and relieved that I got the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer”

It is the hope of medical experts that Ondo state will take the lead in ensuring the successful take in of HPV vaccination amongst girls and women in the 18 council areas of the state.