By David Odama in Lafia.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state.
The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has launched the Human Papilloma virus (HPV) Vaccine into the Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the state.
Speaking at the launch of the programme at the Government Science Secondary School, Lafia, Governor Abdullahi Sule urged parents and guardians to avail their daughters, between 9 and 14 years, of the vaccination to prevent cervical cancer.
Represented by the State deputy governor, Emmanuel Akabe, the governor restated the commitment of the present administration in the state towards providing quality healthcare for the citizens.
Governor Sule also reassured Nigerians,particularly the residents of Nasarawa, that the vaccine is safe, free and available in all medical facilities across the state, to be administered to citizens.
He commended the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the development partners for embarking on the exercise.
“It is a demonstration of our continued partnership and indeed, collective efforts in our quest to protect our young girls against the prevalence of cervical cancer. As you’re all aware,cervical cancer is a serious, potentially fatal disease that affects 1000s of lives every year, especially females of productive age.
“However, it’s important to note that Cervical cancer is a preventable disease, which can be controlled through routine human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine.
“It is for this reason that we must utilize the opportunity as critical stakeholders to significantly reduce the prevalence of this disease to protect the lives of our citizens, particularly young girls between the ages of 9 and 14,” Sule noted.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna, described cervical cancer as one of the most common forms of cancer that affects women thus, must be tackled.
“Cervical cancer globally accounts for a huge number of deaths and is the fourth among the cancers that kill women in the world.
“Most of the women that came down with cervical cancer are being associated with HPV,but there is now something that can slow down the virus, which can stop the infection of HPV.
“What we are doing here today is cost-effective, preventive, and safe so that we don’t have to wait for treatment or management when cancer has set it.
“Prevention is better than treatment and cure,” the commissioner stated.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Muhammed Usman Adis, commended the Nigerian government, and the state government for introducing the HPV vaccine, which will save future generations of Nigerian girls and women.
He further said that the vaccine has 90 percent guarantee of protecting girls from cervical cancer.
In their goodwill messages, the representatives of World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, National Orientation Agency, CHAI, ALGON and Emir of Lafia pledged their continued support to the expanded immunization programme for the overall wellbeing of young girls and women in the state.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
