Bisola David
The Bauchi State government began a Human PapillomaVirus vaccine program on Saturday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, given that HPV is the most prevalent sexually transmitted illness, it intends to target girls between the ages of nine and 14.
In order to create activities to support the move, the Bauchi Primary Health Care Development Agency established a Technical Working Group.
The TWG includes members who are specialists in medicine, religious and traditional leaders, representatives of civil society organisations, and development partners.
The Executive Secretary of BASPHCDA, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, stated that 16 states, including Bauchi State, had been chosen nationwide for the first round of immunization when he spoke to the group in Bauchi.
“The TWG’s overall goal will be to coordinate, introduce, and make decisions to ensure a seamless introduction of the vaccine.
According to him, “the group will be in charge of mapping all relevant HPV stakeholders, monitoring and tracking board readiness, and tracking funding for the rollout of the vaccine.”
The vaccination was created to prevent women from cervical cancer, according to the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the organization, Dr. Jibreel Mohammed, in his presentation.
He declared that starting in 2024, standard vaccinations would include the HPV vaccine.
Mohammed voiced concern over the high rate of cancer in women and emphasized the need for group efforts to lessen the burden by focusing on young girls for the vaccine.
For easy access by beneficiaries, he noted, the campaign would be carried to educational institutions, medical centers, and houses of worship.
The Chairman, Bauchi Network of Civil Society Organisations, Mr. Jinjiri Garba, promised the network’s commitment to making the immunization project a success in his remarks.
