Emir Commends FG, Others Over HPV Vaccination In Zamfara

The Emir of Bungudu in Zamfara, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru, has commended partners for supporting Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination against cervical cancer in the state.

Attahiru gave the commendation in Bungudu at the sensitisation of community and stakeholders on Phase 2 HPV vaccine roll-out in the state.

The event was part of campaign and stakeholders engagement exercise on HPV vaccine in Zamfara

The vaccination exercise is being supported by the International NGO, Gavi, the vaccine alliance to complement the effort of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in the fight against cervical cancer.

It is also Implemented by the Save Mothers and Children Initiative in partnership with, International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC), Direct Consulting and Logistics (DCL), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA), with funding from Gavi through Johns Hopkins.

The paramount ruler of Bungudu emirate adds that development partners contribution to in the exercise is to promote health care services in the state

“We are thankful to Zamfara Government for engaging various development partners and the payment of counterpart funds for various health care programmes in the state. The emir said.

“I am using this medium to call on our people at all levels to continue to support HPV vaccination campaign against cervical cancer in the state,” the emir added.

The traditional ruler cautioned members of the public against any misconception about the vaccine, nothing that it is aimed at curbing carnival Cancer

“Those discouraging the vaccine are enemies of progress, we should all join in the fight against cervical cancer in our state.

“As we were told, the vaccination is very important to the targeted adolescent girls and we should encourage them to get vaccinated”

“Cervical cancer is very dangerous to human health, we should work together and prevent our children from contracting the HPV virus.

“At our level, the emirate and all district heads will ensure more sensitisation to our people for the success of the vaccination exercise,” the emir added.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Save Mothers and Children Initiative, Mr Aminu Nahuche, said his the organization was engaged by the Direct Consult and Logistics Partners (DCL) such as International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) and Women Advocate for Vaccine Alliance to help fight carvical cancer especially among teenage girls

“All the listed partners are supporting the activities of HPV virus vaccination in the state.

“We operate in Three categories, Social media mobilization, community sensitisation and mobilization of eligible adolescents for vaccination campaigns.

“We conducted over 100 sensitisation at community level, we spent over one months on social media mobilization.

”We are here in Bungudu today to be part of our community and stakeholders engagement to mobilize the eligible adolescents for vaccination,” he added.

Also speaking, Dr Judith Dike, from the Family Medicine Department, Federal Medical Centre Gusau, said adolescent girls from 9 to 14 years were targeted for the vaccination.

Dike, who is the State Secretary, Medical and Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) said a total of 12,000 women were affected by cervical cancer across the country, out of which 8000 women die annually.

“The HPV disease can be spread through sexual intercourse and body sweat among others.

“The sensitisation campaign covers school, clinics and hospitals as well as out of school adolescent girls.

“We are determined to achieve over 90 percent of the targeted adolescent girls in the state,” Dr Dike added.