No fewer than 476,664 girls between the ages of nine and 14 are being targeted in Anambra for Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) against cervical cancer beginning May 27. Mr Patrick Akpan, Technical Assistant, Clinton Health Association Initiative (CHAI), made the disclosure during a mega rally on uptake of HPV vaccine in Nnewi North Local Government Area. The rally was done by the Education and Research For Sustainable Development (ERSD) in partnership with International Vaccine Access Centre and Direct Consulting and Logistics.
Others involved in the rally are: the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Women Advocates for Vaccine Access and Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) with funding from GAVI through John Hopkins. Akpan said that CHAI was offering technical assistance to the state government for the introduction of HPV into routine immunisation to ensure vaccine access to the public. He said: “This rally is to up-scale ongoing sensitisation in the state and to tell the public that the HPV vaccine is safe, free, and effective.
“No fewer than 89 million girls are expected to be vaccinated across the country, while 476,664 girls are being targeted in Anambra state.” Also speaking, Dr Judith Ani, Executive Director, ERSD, said the free vaccine administration would kick off on Monday, May 27, for girls between the ages of nine to 14. Ani urged parents to take advantage of the opportunity to ensure their daughters within the age brackets are vaccina.
