754,304 girls vaccinated against cervical cancer, malnutrition — Kaduna govt

Kaduna State Government has announced that over 754,304 girls aged 9 to 14 have been vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) across the state to prevent them from cervical cancer.

This was made known during the launch of Girls Effect Oya Campaign held at the Gusau Institute in Kaduna on Wednesday.

The event, which was attended by health stakeholders, development partners, and civil society groups, was led by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, whose remarks were delivered by the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajia Rabi Salisu.

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“The Oya campaign is a call to action, a call to move, and a call to protect. And we must answer it with urgency, with empathy, and with unity.

“The Girl Effect Oya Campaign, implemented by the UK-based Girl Effect, complements the state’s ongoing HPV vaccination drive and adolescent health programmes. This is not just about vaccines and nutrition, it is about our collective duty to protect and empower the next generation of girls in Kaduna State,” Balarabe stated.

She described the campaign as a community-wide call to action that targets parents, teachers, religious and traditional leaders to help dispel harmful myths and support early prevention efforts.

The deputy governor said the Kaduna HPV immunisation programme, launched in 2024, has reached 754,304 girls, protecting them from the virus that causes cervical cancer.

She reaffirmed the state’s commitment under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani to scale up access to vaccines, strengthen nutrition, and ensure a safe future for every girl.

“No child should be lost to a disease we can prevent. Every girl in Kaduna deserves to grow up healthy, strong, and free from diseases we know how to stop,” Balarabe said.

While praising the role of frontline health workers, the Deputy Governor noted that Kaduna has become a model in northern Nigeria for integrating adolescent health into routine immunisation and social development strategies.

The State’s deputy governor, however, urged stakeholders across sectors present at the retreat to use the campaign to “ignite conversations in homes, classrooms, markets, and mosques,” building a culture of early prevention and collective responsibility for girls’ health.