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.