The Ogun State Government, on Tuesday, said it would commence vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) for about 500,000 teenage girls, to prevent cervical cancer.
This was disclosed by the Ogun State Coordinator for the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Victoria Adebiyi, during media orientation on HPV vaccination in the state.
Dr. Adebiyi disclosed that the vaccination will be administered to girls ages 9 to 14 free of charge.
She said the vaccination aims to prevent the spread of cervical cancer among teenage girls in the state, and that a single dose of Gardasil HPV vaccine would be administered.
The state Coordinator of NPHCDA added that the state had been selected among 16 other states for the first vaccination phase nationwide.
She explained further that the vaccine would be administered in all government-owned health facilities and temporary fixed locations such as markets, schools, religious centres and communities.
She noted that HPV infection accounts for 95 per cent of the cause of cervical cancer; hence, the Federal Government moved to introduce the HPV vaccines to prevent and protect the girl child.
Adebiyi said, “The campaign is for five days throughout the 20 local government areas of the state, during this period, teenage girls between the ages of 9 to 14 will be given the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer.
“After the five-day campaign, HPV vaccination against cervical cancer will be routine for girls from nine years of age. What this means is that every girl who has attained the age of nine will be vaccinated at public health facilities.
“Our target is 546,300 teenage girls of ages 9 to 14. The vaccine is available at all public health facilities, including the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).”
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, of Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, assured the vaccine’s safety.
He admonished religious and community leaders to encourage parents to allow their girls to go for the vaccine.
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