The World Health Organization (WHO) has said vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus, HPV, will soon start in Kogi State.
The Kogi State Team Leader of WHO, Dr Muktar Raji Toyosi disclosed this when he led his team on an advocacy visit to the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Lokoja.
Dr Toyosi explained that the vaccination is meant for the girl child of between age nine and fourteen, adding that it is expected to be flagged off on the 27th of May.
The WHO State Team Leader said the ongoing sensitization was to keep the people informed and educate them of the vaccination of their girl child in a bid to protect them against cervical cancer in future.
“Kogi State falls within the second phase of the programme. We are soliciting for the cooperation of the media in educating the people of the state on the need to take the vaccination for their girls to safeguard their future. Although the vaccine was initially scarce and difficult to get, the good news now is that it has been made available by the Government” he stressed.
In his remarks, a former Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, in Kogi State who doubles as WHO State Technical Assistant, Dr Ahmed Attah, noted that the Human Papilloma Virus, HPV, majorly affects women, adding that, the vaccination of girls is a preventive measure against the infection.
He urged parents and guardians to avail their children of the vaccination to justify the government’s investment in the programme.
Responding, Kogi State Chairman of the NUJ, Seidu Ademu Haruna described the health sector as very critical, stressing that the vaccination against HPV was a right step in the right direction by the government.
He assured of the partnership of the State NUJ in the quest for the Team to achieve set goals in the area of informing, educating and sensitizing the general public on the need to embrace the Vaccine and bringing out their girls within the age range to receive it.
