Govt Tasks stakeholders on advocacy, training, monitoring for a successful HPV vaccination
As Ondo State Government commenced the vaccination against human Papilloma Virus HPV on Monday , May 27th, 2024, it has called on all stakeholders to be proactive in sensitizing their immediate community urging parents, particularly mothers to present their girls of between the ages of 9 and 14 for vaccination.
The Permanent Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Francis Akanbiemu made the call at a stakeholders meeting with members of the State Social Mobilization Committee on Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine Introduction held in Akure.
Akanbiemu appealed to the stakeholders to help mobilize the targeted girls massively for the exercise.
Dr Akanbiemu represented by the Deputy Director, Disease Control, Dr Bunmi Olakunbi said the role of stakeholders for the vaccination exercise cannot be over emphasized due to the importance of the Vaccine on Women and Girls.
A Representative from the National Primary healthcare Development Agency in the state , Mr Adetunji Adeoye while presenting a talk on basic fact about HPV said the target is to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030 year.
This he affirmed would have recorded about 90 percent of the girls to have received the vaccination while 90 percent of those identified with cervical disease would have received appropriate treatment.
Adeoye also stated that the second phase of the vaccine is introduced to 21 states which includes Ondo state to look into areas of defects in the first phase for an improvement.
While complementing the presentation earlier presented, the UNICEF State HPV consultant, Mrs Binta Audu called on people to shun all forms of myths and misconceptions saying that government cannot be spending much money on infrastructural development and to vaccinate the girls to die.
Audu who spoke on the roles and responsibility of stakeholders called for their support and collaboration while tasking them to do advocacy, trainings monitoring to ensure full compliance in vaccinating freely as well as cooperate with others stakeholders.
The UNICEF social and behaviour change specialist, Lagos office , Mrs Aderonke Akinsola- Akinwale charged parents to shun all myths and misconceptions about the vaccine which is safe for girls for the prevention of cervical cancer.
The Chairman, Ondo State council of traditional rulers and Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladelusi represented by the Asae of Akure, High chief Sola Adegbomire said the traditional institution will always throw it’s weight to ensure the success of the exercise.
The State Chairman of Christain Association of Nigeria, (CAN) Rev. father Anslem Ologunwa and the Chief Imam of Gaga, Imam Yusuf Agbesinga while appreciating the agencies for the introduction of the HPV vaccine pledged their continuous support as they said they have sensitized the religious faithfuls on the development promising to mobilze targeted girls in the places of worship for the vaccination.
Present at the event included officers from the National Agency among which includes: Mr Ayange Muhammed, Mrs Mustapha Alima Shade and Mr Dotun Akinyosoye.
