The Edo, Delta and Bayelsa governments, including stakeholders in the health sector, have commended the level of sensitization in the ongoing, as well as the planned second phase of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in the states.
The stakeholders, including health experts, activists and government officials, spoke on the ongoing nationwide HPV vaccination.
They said the awareness would educate the public on the symptoms, preventive tips and case management of diseases in the country.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO and UNICEF launched the HPV vaccine on Oct. 24 in Abuja as a preventive measure against cervical cancer, targeting girls aged nine to 14 years.
The launch was followed by a roll-out in Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Enugu, FCT, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun and Taraba so as to save lives.
Globally, cervical cancer causes more than 342,000 deaths annually, with 90 per cent of women dying in low- and middle-income countries.
The HPV vaccine is the most effective vaccine, with an average success of 92 per cent in preventing cervical cancer, but its accessibility remains limited for millions worldwide.
According to WHO, cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer among women in Nigeria and the second most frequent cancer death among women between 15 and 44 years of age.
Therefore, introducing the HPV vaccine is critical to preventing HPV infections, a primary cause of cervical cancer and protecting young girls before exposure to the virus can reduce the incidence of the devastating disease significantly.
HPV is the most common Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), that is usually harmless and goes away by itself, but some types can lead to cancer or genital warts.
The disease infects genital area including vulva; vagina, cervix, rectum, anus, penis, scrotum, mouth and throat.
The other types of HPV can cause common diseases like hand and plantar warts on the feet – but these aren’t sexually transmitted.
The Federal Government has, therefore, included HPV vaccine into the routine immunisation system to reach 7.7 million girls – the largest number in a single round of HPV vaccination in the African region.
Bayelsa, listed among the 16 states in the first phase of the HPV vaccination, said it was already up and running with the exercise.
The ongoing governorship campaign may have clouded the visibility of the exercise, but stakeholders are busy with the vaccination in the eight local government areas of the state.
The State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Patricia Madurmedis said that in spite of paucity of funds, the agency is participating in advocacy and sensitisation in every nook and cranny of the state.
She said “NOA is participating right now; my officers in the LGA are trying their best to mobilise even without funds given to them.”
According to her, NOA, however, has the requisite capacity to enlighten the target audience for the vaccination.
The Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Women Advocacy Foundation (ENWAF) , a Non-Government Organisation, Miss Eunice Nnachi said sensitisation for HPV vaccination and other vaccines have been ongoing in Bayelsa for the past three months.
She explained that ENWAF and other civil society groups, in collaboration with National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Ministry of Education and international donour agencies like UNICEF, among others, are in the advocacy for HPV and other vaccines.
She explained that the administration of HPV vaccine across the eight council areas had been slated between November 20 and 25.
According to Nnachi, who is also a gender focused journalist, the enlightenment has been vigorous because of the high level of misinformation that followed the COVID-19 vaccine.
She explained that on noticing the vaccine hesitancy, partners adopted multiple approaches to reach the nine to 14 female targets.
“We have different groups; some go to schools, markets and other public spaces. We have been on this for the past three months. Shortly after the governorship election, the vaccination would start in earnest.”
Checks with some female children indicate that officials from the Ministry of Health and sensitisation teams have been engaging schoolgirls on the HPV vaccination plan.
A 12-year-old student, Precious Dambo, said that although she had been educated on the HPV vaccine and had obtained the consent of her parents, she was yet to be vaccinated.
She said “I have not been given the vaccine but I have been told about it. Some officials came to our school; but as of now, we are on flood break and when we resume, they will come and vaccinate us.”
In Edo, scheduled for the second phase of the first quarter of 2024, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), are calling for heightened awareness about the HPV vaccination.
According to the CSOs, awareness about the vaccine and the vaccination is low in the state.
The Executive Director, Women, Youths and Children Advancement Programme, Mrs Agatha Osieke, called for continuous enlightenment through jingles on radio stations, churches, mosques and market places in all the LGAs in the state.
She said “my view is that if it has positive health implications, then there should be massive sensitisation about it. I do not know much about the vaccine, but if it has been proven to be relevant, then there should be massive campaign.”
The Project Manager, Indomitable Youths Organisation, Dr Bright Oniovokukor urged relevant stakeholders to amplify the need to reduce the burden of cervical cancer via acceptance of the HPV vaccine.
He said HPV is a major virus identified as a causative factor for cervical cancer and early sexual debut has been discovered to be one of the risk factors in contacting the virus.
“Having multiple sexual partners and having a partner with multiple sexual partners are also risk factors for contacting HPV and higher chances of cervical cancer.
“Cervical cancer screening is for early detection of the cancer, but for the adolescent, there is the need for them to understand that prevention is better than cure.
“Taking this vaccine reduces the chances of getting cervical cancer in the future but the challenge is that the awareness is low.
“Parents, religious leaders, owners of schools, and guardians need to understand the essence of the vaccine to the girl-child.”
The Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency’s (EDSPHCDA) Immunisation Officer, Mrs Elfrida Omogun, said that “Edo will benefit from the second phase of the HPV vaccine that will be given to children between ages nine and 15.
“The HPV vaccine is to prevent our children from coming down with cervical cancer, which is now rampant in society.”
She, however, sought the collaboration of relevant organisations and individuals in the implementation of the agency’s health interventions for better outcomes, saying measles revaccination is ongoing in some wards in eight local government areas.
The Head, Health Education Unit, EDSPHCDA, Mrs Irene Uabor had also expressed the state government’s readiness to increase sensitisation about the HPV vaccination in the 18 local government areas.
She stated that “Edo is among the 21 states earmarked for the second phase of the HPV vaccination in the 36 states of Nigeria, including the FCT.”
Uabor, therefore, urged Edo residents to utilise Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) nearest to them for their basic health care needs.
She added that “we want Edo residents to utilise our PHCs effectively. Our PHCs services are numerous; we do immunisation, nutrition, family planning and general family health.
“We want our stakeholders to be abreast with PHC activities and communicate the same to their different communities and associations.
