Tag: HPV VACCINE

By Uzo Ugwunze/Gloria Anaeze :

The Supervisory Councillor for Health, Idemili North Local Government Area, Dr. Nkem Okeke, Director of Health Authority, Mrs Chinwe Okeke, Social Mobilization Officer/Health Educator, Mrs Chinenye Okpala Nwankwo have assured community leaders that the introduction of the Human Papilloma Virus( HPV), vaccine is to reduce the burden of Cervical cancer which is the second most common cancer amongst women in Nigeria.

Speaking during the Idemili North Stakeholders Engagement Meeting for HPV vaccine Intensification at Ogidi, Dr Nkem Okeke said that the program was organized by the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHDA) in collaboration with state Ministry of Health and partners

“We are sensitizing you to sensitize your community members. Actual Intensification vaccination will begin on December 3, 2024.

HOD Health Idemili North, Mrs Chinwe Okeke lamented that Idemili North was among the three LGAS that did not do well during the uptake of the vaccine, hence the need to repeat the vaccination uptake. “The Cervical cancer is dangerous and a killer disease that affects the mouth of the cervix or neck of the womb.

“It is only this December that it would be made available for everyone within 9 to 14 years but from next year it will become a routine immunization for only children who will be 9 years,” she noted.

Deputy Mayor Idemili North, Lady Phina Onwuachu suggested that private schools and churches be sensitized to advice their children to take up the vaccines.

Earlier in his remarks, the Leader of Idemili North Councillors, Nze Anikpe commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for seeing that the program is repeated to make sure that the number of children who are the target population are reached.

Chairman’s wife, Lady Ebere Nkwoka reiterated the need to discard the unfounded rumors and encourage eligible children to receive the vaccines.

• Ugwunze and Anaeze are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *

By Nnedinma Okeke :

In a bid to intensifying the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination exercise in the State, the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA) in collaboration with State Ministry of Health (SMOH), and Partners has held a one day Stakeholders Engagement meeting.

The meeting held in Awka had in attendance; PHC Directors, Social Mobilization Officers (SMOs), Traditional Rulers, Religious leaders, President General’s, Youths, and Women Group Leaders, Representatives of Education Ministry and ASUBEB, Representatives of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and the Media, among other key stakeholders.

The overall aim of the meeting was review of implementation of the HPV vaccine across the state and planning for the upcoming HPV vaccine intensification.

Its specific objectives includes; sharing lessons learned from the HPV vaccine introduction, review progress/challenges and best practices for HPV vaccination in Anambra State, and engage expanded partners to garner insights and recommendations on improving HPV vaccine coverage as well as share update on the proposed targeted intensification exercise.

The Executive Secretary, ASPHCDA, Pharm Chisom Uchem represented by the Director Disease Control and Immunization Department, ASPHCDA, Dr Nnamdi Placid Uliagbafusi noted that the intensification exercise was being sponsored by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).

She explained that the HPV vaccination was to aid curb the menace of cancer which comes with a lot of financial obligations, stress and pain to both the patients and their families.

“The Human Papilloma Virus has taken lives of many people in the country including prominent people, and this is the reason why the vaccination is important as it will aid prevent the virus from causing harm to an infected person.”

According to the ES, diseases prevention save lives, among a host of other things which includes saving from economic loss which the illness may cause.

She urged the Stakeholders to be Ambassadors and help spread the message at the grassroots as Government and Partners aim was to save lives and for the people to enjoy benefits of vaccination.

CHAI Technical Assistant, Mr Patrick Akpan explained that globally, vaccination against HPV has been proven to be a highly effective method of preventing HPV infections and subsequent cervical cancer.

“The introduction of the HPV vaccine can significantly reduce the incidence of cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases,” he said.

He noted that in Nigeria, the Routinization of the HPV vaccine is particularly crucial due to the high burden of cervical cancer and the limitations of secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities to manage and treat advanced cancer cases effectively.

Mr Obinna Ezem, CHAI Technical Assistant, noted the Anambra HPV vaccine intensification which would commence from 3rd to 7th December 2024 was targeted at three Local Government Areas (LGAs) namely; Aguata, Idemili North and Orumba North LGAs respectively.

He noted that the essence was to improve HPV vaccination uptake in a 5-day intensification exercise, to strengthen Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) activities in the identified LGAs toward improving HPV vaccine uptake, and to vaccinate eligible girls yet to be vaccinated.

“Strategy to be used includes: leveraging fixed post and outreach programs to intensify HPV vaccine efforts, target LGAs with the highest unvaccinated adolescent girls, and engaging existing state structures for targeted mobilization,” Mr Ezem explained.

He noted the project scope to include; Anambra, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, Kano, Nasarawa, Bauchi and Lagos States respectively.

Traditional Rulers present at the meeting were: Traditional Ruler of Uke and Paramount Traditional Ruler of Idemili North, His Royal Highness – Igwe Charles Agbala, Traditional Ruler of Ndiokpalaeze in Orumba North LGA His Royal Highness of – Eze F C Okoli, and Traditional Ruler of Uga Aguata LGA, His Royal Highness, Igwe C S Ezenwugo.

*Nnedinma is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State

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