HPV Vaccination to be Institutionalist in C'River - Mrs Otu

By: Esther Okoi

The Wife of Governor of Cross River State, Rev. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu has flagged off the introduction of the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccines in Cross River State with a charge on parents and guardians to secure the future of their young girls between 9 to 14 years by allowing them access to the vaccination services.

Speaking during the flag off exercise at part of activities marking the 2024 Children's Day celebration at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, the Governor’s wife stated that the “human papiloma virus vaccine when inoculated into the body improves the bodily immune response against the viral antigen of the HPV, thus protecting the exposed individual from contracting the infection.”

According to her, “human papiloma virus infection caused by type 16 and 18 is responsible for the development of about 95% of cervical cancer, when not properly managed at the early stage,” adding that the high burden of cervical cancer is attributed to poor access to HPV vaccination services among other factors.

Mrs Otu informed the gathering that the vaccine is “introduced for children, ages range from 9 to 14 years due to the global shortage of the vaccine.

The vaccination exercise commenced today 27th May, 2024 across the 18 Local Government Area of the State and the vaccination teams will be available in the communities, schools, churches, markets, mosques till 31st May, 2024 for easy access,” pointing out that from January 2025, HPV vaccination will be a component of routine immunization for girls of 9 years of age, only.

Also speaking, the Director General, Cross River State Primary Health care Development Agency, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu  stated that the “HPV Vaccine is very important because it is one of the strategies that the World Health Organisation has set aside to help curtail the spread of cervical cancer in Nigeria and the world. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer that is killing women in Nigeria," she reiterated

According to her, “we are releasing the Gardasil 4-Valent HPV Vaccine which is to protect against type 16 and 18 strains that causes cervical cancer, and type 6 and 11 which causes genital warts. So, we are administering thin on female children between 9 and 14 years because our target is the age groups that are not sexually active so that they will be able to have maximum benefits of the vaccines.

“We are vaccinating the girls in the schools and we are going to have our vaccinators in our Primary Health Care Centres across the State, the Churches and the Mosque.

"So, I call on everybody to bring out their girl child between the ages of 9 to 14 and avail them this opportunity. Let us protect our children from cervical cancer which is the second commonest killer cancer among women in Nigeria. Let us protect their future,” she added.

Present during the flag off event was the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk; the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem; the Commissioner for women Affairs, Mrs. Irom Edema, among other political actors in the State.