Ahead of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccination exercise in Ekiti State, the Healthy Living and Social Development Foundation (HEALSOD) has taken the sensitisation and advocacy campaign to two Ekiti communities in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.
The vaccination exercise which is expected to begin on Monday across all primary healthcare facilities in the state is targeted at children between 9 and 14 years of age towards preventing cervical cancer.
The exercise is being executed in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Women’s Advocate for Vaccine Access (WAVA), International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), John Hopkins, Global Alliance For Vaccine Initiative (GAVI), and Direct Consulting and Logistics.
Addressing stakeholders including school children in the two communities of Are -Ekiti and Igede-Ekiti, the Executive Director of HEALSOD, Mrs Olubunmi Awe explained that the campaign exercise was necessary to sensitize the people especially parents on the need to allow their children to be vaccinated.
She added that the vaccination which be launched on Monday by officials of the state government as the second phase, would be free of charge, assuring parents that the vaccine is not harmful to the body.
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She reiterated the need for people especially parents to dismiss the narratives and wrong perceptions about the vaccination exercise, saying that every girl child vaccinated stands a good chance of preventing cervical cancer.
On the choice of vaccinating girl child 9-14 years, Awe said, “Children in this age group are not sexually active, free from HPV, and it’s ideal to start vaccination before any threat or contact with the virus.”
According to her, “the vaccine is free of any harm and that the medical team will meet the targeted population at strategic locations. We are coming to meet them, at marketplaces, schools and strategic spots to ensure that everyone is captured.
“The programme is on the Human Papillomavirus virus that causes cervical cancer. We want to increase community knowledge on the Human Papillomavirus vaccine and its acceptance, ensure Increase in vaccine coverage through sensitization and inoculation of people in the community against Myths and Misconceptions.”
The Chairman Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Hon. Gbenga Oluwatuyi said further sensitization will proceed to different parts of the community, especially the remote areas to ensure that the residents are aware and informed of the vaccination exercise.
The Chairman who was represented by the Supervisor for Health in LGA, Ayodeji Owoeye also noted that, “the vaccine is safe, free from any ill, therefore, we call on the public, our parents to cooperate during the vaccination exercise.”
Earlier, the Councillor of Are-Ekiti Community Hon. Daramola Oluwafemi said that “a larger percentage of our girls will be vaccinated, considering the lectures and engagement so far; we are confident that our girls aged 9-14 will be made available.”
The Executive Director of the Society for Women Aids in Africa Nigeria (SWAAN), Ekiti State, Mrs Mary Adeyanju emphasised the vaccine’s importance in preventing cervical cancer and urged parents and guardians to bring their children to designated vaccination centres for them to receive it.
Students from Ekiti Baptist High School who spoke during the event promised to take advantage of the exercise to receive the vaccine, adding that they would serve as ambassadors in a bid to ensure that their colleagues within the age bracket are vaccinated.
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