HPV VACCINE INTRODUCED TO TACKLE HPV INFECTION SAYS CHAI TECHNICAL ASSISTANT

By Nnedinma Okeke :

The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Technical Assistant in Anambra, Mr Patrick Akpan says due to high burden of Cervical cancer disease, the Federal Government with support from Gavi and other supporting Partners introduced the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine inorder to tackle HPV infection.

This according to him was done using the Phase one and Phase two approaches.

The Phase one carried out in October 2023 had 15 States plus FCT introducing the vaccine, while Phase two was carried out in May 2024 with 21 States including Anambra introducing the HPV vaccine.

Mr Akpan who said this during an interview at the CHAI sponsored HPV Stakeholders engagement meeting held in Awka noted that while over 12 million girls had been vaccinated with HPV vaccine in the Country, over five million girls were yet to be vaccinated.

“In Anambra State, we vaccinated about 380,671 girls and we hope for more girls to be vaccinated. This is the reason the HPV vaccination has been Intergrated into the Routine Immunization (RI) schedule to make it accessible and available for girls.

“So far, we are still working hard to ensure that we align with our concept of protecting girls; a future generation while ensuring improved health outcomes,” he said.

Speaking on the HPV Stakeholders engagement meeting, the Technical Assistant noted that the essence was to enlighten key Stakeholders in the State with insight of progress made in regards to HPV vaccination in the State and Country at large.

“CHAI is an organisation committed to health systems strengthening and been part of the new vaccine introduction, supporting with technical and other support is working on how more girls could be vaccinated as over five million girls are yet to be vaccinated in the County.

“The vaccine was introduced for girls nine to 14 years of age, but from 2025 it would be for girls aged nine. This is the reason CHAI is working to have more girls vaccinated before 2025.

“We are also working to ensure that information about HPV vaccine stands the test of time, as it is all about protecting the girl child from Cervical cancer in the future.

“We are ensuring that people are properly sensitized on the HPV vaccine with advocacy to key Stakeholders so as to ensure the message gets to everyone,” Mr Akpan explained.

*Nnedinma is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State