Cervical Cancer: 36 CSOs move to create awareness on HPV vaccine
By Samuel Luka, Bauchi
With a view to ensure reduction in the risk of Cervical Cancer among girl child in Nigeria, 36 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have pledged to Champion awareness campaigns on Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vacation.
The Executive Director of Azurfa Women and Youth Development initiative, Mrs Monica Tanko Stated this in an interview with newsmen after a Micro planning meeting with relevant stakeholders at weekend in Gombe state on Saturday.
Mrs Monica said her Organisation, Azurfa Women and Youth Development initiative is among the Civil Society Organizations that have been trained to raise awareness on Human Papillomavirus and the strategies putting in place for reducing and/or lower the risk of the diseases for the girl child
According to her, more than 100 Civil Society Organizations have been trained out of which the 36 selected were equipped to carry out the intervention.
Mrs Tanko stated that a 4 day training exercise on HPV was held on the 20th – 23rd March 2024 .
According to her, the training was implemented by International Vaccine Access (IVAC) and Direct Consulting Logistics (DCL) in collaboration with National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Women Advocate for Vaccine (WAVA), through a Gavi grant.
She said that the move aimed at increasing public awareness on the virus, improve understanding, importance of prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment.
She added that the awareness campaign drive is also meant to increase HPV vaccination rates for girls 9-14 years, promote parents’ education, and influence policy related to HPV vaccinations by training of trainers (TOT).
Mrs Monica said as a result of the training received, a meeting was organized by Gombe Primary Healthcare Management Board in Gombe State.
She said 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 years.
“Research also shows about 12,075 new cases and nearly 8,000 deaths have been recorded in Nigeria from a disease that is preventable,” the Executive Director disclosed.
She however pointed out that it is the right of the girl child aged 9-14 to get vaccinated in order to stay alive and Healthy.