The Federal Government, has introduced the Human Papillomavirus vaccine that prevents cervical cancer into the routine immunisation system which aims to reach 7.7 million girls.
According to the statement issued by World Health Organization (WHO), on Tuesday, October 24, a five-day mass vaccination campaign will be carried out in schools while community vaccination will be done during the inaugural rollout in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The statement also disclosed that the vaccination will be carried out on girls between 9 to 14 years and each will receive a single dose of the vaccine, which prevents HPV types 16 and 18, known to cause, at least, 70 per cent of cervical cancers.
The statement read in part, “the vaccine is being provided for free by the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organisation, and other partners.
“Vaccination sites have been established in all 4,163 wards across the 16 states included in the phase one rollout to ensure no eligible girl is left behind, the statement added.
In Nigeria, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths among women aged between 15 and 44. In 2020 – the latest year for which data is available – the country recorded 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths from cervical cancer.
