HPV Vaccination Begin in Bayelsa, Says NPHCDA
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA has announced its preparation to begin the conduct of the Human Papilloma Virus, HPV Campaign vaccination in Bayelsa State.
Executive Secretary, NPHCDA, Dr Appah Williams disclosed this in a statement saying the campaign is going to be conducted in all the eight local government areas of the state from 20th-24th November, 2023.
Dr Williams noted that the campaign is part of efforts to stop the transmission of HPV which causes cervical cancer ranked as the second most frequent cancer among women in the country.
“It is the most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. Approximately 3.5% of women are estimated to harbor cervical HPV 16/18 infection at a given and 66.9% invasive cervical cancer are attributed to HPVs.”
“In Nigeria, 14,943 cervical cancer cases are reported yearly with over 7, 968 deaths. Women in Nigeria ranging from 15years and older are at risk of developing cervical cancer ”
He explained that during the exercise, girls 9 to 14 years will be given the HPV vaccine free of charge with the consent of their caregivers in all the fixed and temporary posts throughout the state adding that a single dose will be administered to eligible girls at the left upper arm.
The Executive Secretary also stated that Preventive Measles Vaccination Campaign for children aged 9months to 5years will begin in the state from the 3rd till the 9th of December, 2023.
He urged all relevant stakeholders to disseminate the information and give their maximum support to the agency to ensure that the exercise is successful in the state.
