Olu Samuel, Lokoja

Young girls in Kogi state between the ages of nine and fourteen years old will benefit from the Human papilomina vaccine HPV in 2024

The state is part of the 26 state scheduled to benefit from the vaccine under the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency in collaboration with John stow International,JSI.

The Social Behavioural Change Focal Person for John-Stow International (JSI), Kannah Terri Ibrahim, disclosed this on Tuesday during a media dialogue on cervical cancer and HPV vaccination introduction in Kogi State held in Lokoja.

The non-governmental organisation John-Stow International (JSI), in collaboration with the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KPHDA), also tasked practicing journalists in the state with driving the campaign to prevent cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) in Kogi State.

Giving an overview of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Programme Partners Initiative (HAPPI), he said in 2020, over 600,000 women were affected by cervical cancer worldwide.

“Out of this figure, more than 50 per cent lost their lives. Those diagnosed with cervical cancer, according to research, are women living in developing countries like Nigeria,” he stated.

Ibrahim emphasised that the organisation is kick-starting the second phase of the vaccine, in which Kogi State happens to be one of the beneficiary states.

“We will be engaging stakeholders such as traditional rulers, religious leaders, schools, out-of-school girls, and community engagement (in hard-to-reach areas) to ensure effective implementation of these vaccines in Kogi State and Nigeria in general, he added.

According to him, the media plays a vital role in the implementation of the vaccines across the state, stressing that they will help to counter any misconception concerning the vaccine.

In her presentation on “understanding the cervical cancer disease burden in Nigeria,” a consultant with KSPHCDA, Dr Mary Onoja Alexander, disclosed that cervical cancer and breast cancer are the most common among women in developing countries.

Dr Alexander posited that the intake of the vaccine will help stabilise the immune system to fight the virus in the body.

She averred further that early vaccination will help in the protection of the girl child against cervical cancer.

“The HPV vaccine protects against certain types of cancer caused by the human papilloma virus. It works by stimulating the body’s immune system to produce antibodies against the human papilloma virus. When a person receives the vaccine, their immune system recognises the viral proteins in the vaccine and produces a response that protects against HPV infections.”.

“Australia, Canada, and the USA have made the cervical cancer vaccine routine. But in Africa, it is not the same. The environment is a major factor in this deadly disease. That is why we are saying that vaccination is the safest way to prevent cervical cancer in Africa.”.

She, however, added that the flag-off of the vaccine process in Kogi State will be done on May 27, 2024 across the 21 local government areas of the state.