By Suleiman Yakubu

Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Council in Niger State, Hon. Aminu Yakubu Ladan, has said that the council will strengthen the healthcare department of the local government for smooth take-off and success of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination exercise. 
He made this disclosure as the host local government chairman of the official launch of the HPV vaccine in Niger State, at the Old Airport Clinic, Minna.
He said the council was in support of any programme by the state government that would better the lives and well-being of the people of the local government.
Hon. Aminu Ladan added that the council will provide every support needed by the healthcare department of the local government for the success of the HPV vaccine immunisation in the local government area.
"I want to assure you that Chanchaga local government council under my leadership is fully ready to champion the campaign for the HPV vaccine in the nooks and crannies of the local government," the council chairman assured.
He also disclosed that the healthcare workers in the local government were already briefed and trained on how to sensitise the people and administer the vaccine.
He explained that Chanchaga Local Government, being the capital of the state, has a comparative advantage when it comes to the issue of vaccine resistance, as there was little or no case of resistance in the local government in previous vaccination exercises because about 90 percent of the people living in the local government were elites who knew the importance of vaccines. 
While assuring that no eligible female child would be left out in the HPV vaccination exercise in the local government, the council chairman also appreciated the state government through the state Ministry of Primary Healthcare for launching the HPV vaccine in the state.
The Niger State Government had launched the HPV vaccine in the state and also included it in its vaccine immunisation programmes, targeting about 500,000 young girls between the ages of 9 and 14 for the HPV vaccine immunisation exercise.  

By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Government has launched the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, with a call to parents, guardians, and community leaders to support the HPV vaccination programme in the state.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Yakubu Garba, who launched the HPV vaccine at the Old Airport Clinic in Minna on Monday, said the event was a significant moment in the state healthcare journey towards safeguarding the health and well-being of the people, especially young girls and women.
While underscoring the importance of the HPV vaccine, the Deputy Governor, who was represented at the occasion by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Hamidu Mu'azu Jantabo, explained that the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a common virus that can cause various health issues, including cervical cancer, genital warts, and other cancers, adding that the launch of the HPV vaccine was a major defence against cervical cancer.
He disclosed that the state and local governments, under the leadership of Farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, were committed to providing the enabling environment and prioritising resource distribution as well as the deployment of innovations that were evidence-based to strengthen our healthcare system in the state.
The Deputy Governor, who is also a health carer, added that HPV is transmitted through sexual contact, which makes it crucial to address prevention and early detection, hence the launch of the vaccine.
He disclosed that the HPV vaccine is a powerful tool in preventing cervical cancer and related diseases, and by vaccinating our young girls and boys, we can significantly reduce the burden of HPV-related illnesses in the state.
He said the state government has taken a bold step forward by introducing the HPV vaccine into the state immunisation programme, with a commitment to ensuring that every eligible individual receives this vaccine, regardless of their socio-economic status.
"We call upon parents, guardians, and community leaders to support this initiative. Let us raise awareness about the vaccines safety, efficacy, and long-term benefits. Together, we can protect our loved ones and build a healthier future," the deputy governor solicited.
In his address at the event, the state commissioner for primary healthcare, Dr. Ibrahim Ahmed Dangana, who was represented by his counterpart for secondary and tertiary health, Dr. Tukur Mohammed, underscored the importance of vaccines, saying that they have helped in eradicating diseases such as smallpox and poliomyelitis.
He disclosed that the state, along with the other 21 states, was rolling out the vaccines for the protection of children, especially the girl child, adding that every girl aged between 9 and 14 will be given a single dose of the vaccine, which is highly efficacious in preventing infection with HPV types 16 and 18, known to cause about 70 percent of cervical cancers.
The Commissioner also revealed that cervical cancer was the second deadliest cancer after breast cancer, leading to the death of about 5000 women aged between 15 and 44 years annually in Nigeria.
He further disclosed that over 6,000 health care workers in Niger State have been trained on the handling and administering of the vaccines across the 274 wards of the state, assuring that the vaccine was safe as it has undergone all processes of safety and certification by the Nigerian government.
There were goodwill messages from partners such as UNICEF, WHO, and NPHCDA, among others. Highlights of the event were the administration of the vaccine dose to some female children and a short drama presentation by the Sabo da Kaza cultural group on the importance of vaccines.