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Tag: HPV vaccine

  • Community, stakeholders unite to promote HPV vaccine

    Community, stakeholders unite to promote HPV vaccine

    To boost the uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, the Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS) has engaged key community stakeholders in the Surulere area of Lagos State on the benefits of the vaccine for young girls.

    The initiative is to address misconceptions and promote the vaccination of young girls, which is crucial for preventing cervical cancer later in life.

    The campaign awareness project in Nigeria, funded by Pathfinder, is being implemented in three states including Lagos, Kano and Kaduna states.

    Lagos State Focal Person on Enhancing HPV Vaccine awareness and Uptake Project, Mrs. Ifelunwa Meg Aipoh, highlighted the society’s goal of dispelling myths surrounding the HPV vaccine. “Our aim is to encourage the vaccination of young girls, which is essential to preventing cervical cancer.”

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    Aipoh noted that HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide and often presents without symptoms. “There are more than 100 serotypes, but only some high-risk types of HPV can cause cancer. Getting vaccinated against HPV is the best way for our young girls to protect themselves,” she said.

    The Medical Officer of Health (MOH) in Surulere Local Government Area, Dr. Titilayo Oni, emphasised the importance of the HPV vaccine, saying: “We are aware of the numerous rumours and misconceptions that discourage people from taking these vaccines. That’s why we brought together community stakeholders to educate and inform the public about the significance of these vaccines, and the protection they offer.”

    Dr. Oni described the extensive outreach efforts to include a state kick-off event in Surulere, series of meetings, and community sensitisation activities. “Stakeholders have engaged with school heads, PTAs, and various community groups to ensure widespread awareness and utilisation of the HPV vaccine,” she said.

    She urged participants to educate their communities, saying “Those who understand the value of this vaccine have paid for it. Yet, some people, despite receiving it for free, criticise it. It’s essential to educate our people about the benefits of the vaccine, emphasizing that it’s for the protection of their children’s futures.”

    A member of the NCS awareness team, Dr. Agatha Wapmuk, highlighted the power of community stakeholders in advocating for HPV vaccination. “No politician can stand without the people. Community leaders, market women, and religious leaders are essential for the success of any intervention. Your voices are crucial in all aspects,” she said.

    Voicing their support for the initiative, the Chief Imam of Abdul Wahab Folawiyo Mosque in Surulere, Alhaji Ali Atanda, addressed the ignorance surrounding the HPV vaccine. He suggested that community members who have had their daughters vaccinated should share their positive experiences to help dispel fears.

    The Iyaloja of Surulere Local Council Development Area market, Madam Ruth Abiba, expressed her dedication to convincing parents of the vaccine’s importance. “Many parents have warned their daughters not to take the HPV vaccine due to various rumours, especially those related to the COVID-19 vaccine and others,” she explained.

  • HPV vaccine: 21 states begin Phase 2 immunization May

    HPV vaccine: 21 states begin Phase 2 immunization May

    The second phase of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine immunization will begin in May this year to cover the entire country, the Executive Secretary (ES) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina has said.

    Aina has also disclosed that the new Malaria vaccine RTS, S/AS01 would be introduced into Nigeria later this year or early 2025.

    This is as he unveiled the agency’s strategies to take optimal healthcare delivery service to the doorsteps of every Nigerian through the expansion and upgrade of the Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs).

    Out of the more than 35,000 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) across the nation, the Federal government currently oversees approximately 8,300.

    Aina however said that over the next two years, the government aims to double the number, and the training of 120,000 frontline health workers is scheduled to start soon, ensuring optimal health services for Nigerians at the grassroots level.

    Speaking during the weekend while unveiling the agency plans, Aina who assumed office four months ago said, through the NPHCDA Gateway, over the next four years, the agency will be working to make the PHCs fully functional by making them have what they need to provide quality services. 

    He said: “We will ensure that they have the workforce, the commodities and technical assistance to make good use of the resources that they will be getting through the decentralized facility financing and have all the equipment and infrastructure including accommodation for the front line health workers that are working in the health centres. 

    “Secondly, we are also going to front-lining the number of facilities in Nigeria. It is a very big country and not every place is equitably being served at the moment.

    “We will try to balance that up, by ensuring that every Nigerian is equal in the eyes of government. We are going to be expanding the number of facilities that are directly supported by the government. 

    “In addition to that, we are going to be investing quite a lot in the framework that will produce and retain frontline health workers at the health facilities”. 

    Aina also emphasised that the innovative steps being taken by the government to impact and reinvigorate the nation’s healthcare were informed by identifiying the entire healthcare architecture of the country as a priority.

    “Presently there are identifyingration among health workers in Nigeria, so the government is going to be focusing not only on it with the NPHCDA but also working with the States and the Federal Ministry Health, we will be looking at ways to improve the production and retention of health workers as well as the satisfaction, commitment and competence of the health workers that are providing services at the primary health centres. 

    “We will be participating in the government’s efforts to lower the cost of health services through pulled procurement and other interventions.

    While noting that the agency, in collaboration with others has been able to mitigate the spread of Diphtheria since its latest outbreak, also disclosed that the second phase HPV vaccine immunization will begin in June.

    “The second phase of HPV immunization will begin in Maof y in 21 States. The implication of this is that the vaccine will be accessible nationwide at no cost”.

    He also stated that the Diphtheria outbreak has slowed down and the agency will soon be taking its campaign to the first 32 Local Government Areas (LGAs) where the campaign started having gone round the affected States.

    Since December 2022, Nigeria has been dealing with a severe outbreak of Diphtheria, resulting in 471 deaths, over 7,400 confirmed cases and 12,000 suspected cases as of 28 September 2023. 

    The outbreak has risen sharply since July 2023, with over 1,000 new cases identified every week but the situation has been brought under control, according to the NPHCDA boss.

    On the new Malaria vaccine, Aina said  RTS,S/AS01 would be introduced into Nigeria later this year or early 2025 as part of its routine immunization.

    Read Also: HPV vaccine: 21 states begin Phase 2 immunization May

    According to him, the new cheaper vaccine is also very safe and effective in preventing malaria in children with capacity to cover a wider audience.

    The inclusion of the Malaria vaccine will strengthen the vaccine e capacity of NPHCDA in its mandate of preventing commutable diseases in children.

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in its July 5, 2023 news release stated that, in response to high demand for the first-ever malaria vaccine, 12 countries in Africa will be allocated a total of 18 million doses of RTS, S/AS01 for the 2023–2025 period.

    It said: “The RTS, S/AS01 vaccine has been administered to more than 1.7 million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi since 2019 and has been shown to be safe and effective, resulting in both a substantial reduction in severe malariais deaths. At least 28 African countries have expressed interest in receiving the malaria vaccine.”