Not fewer than 43,000 girls aged 9-14 are to be vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi.
The disclosure was made by the UNICEF Facilitator in Toro LGA, Aishatu Labaran while giving a progress report of the HPV vaccination campaign in the area during a monitoring visit by Media men facilitated by the Bauchi Field Office of UNICEF on Thursday.
According to her, “We are having HPV campaign for girls within the age range of of 9 to 14 years in order to protect them from getting cervical cancer infection during their reproductive age.”
She added; “We have adequately sensitised religious leaders, traditional leaders, teachers and other stakeholders on the need to allow the girls to be vaccinated. More than 100 schools were sensitised in Toro local government on the importance of the vaccine and the dangers of cervical cancer in women of reproductive age.”
On the acceptance of the vaccine, Aishatu Labaran said, “The acceptance of the vaccine is a bit high unlike that of polio. There is less rumour and less noncompliance in this HPV vaccination.”
She stressed that to ensure that cervical cancer was prevented among women of reproductive age, She assured, “After the rollout exercise, vaccine would be introduced into the normal routine immunisation at all health facilities in the State.”
She however urged that The local government should emphasise mobilisation, community engagement as this would enhance creation of awareness which will in turn result in more girls receiving the vaccine.
The Health Educator of LGA, Malami Yakubu Danjuma disclosed that in the first 2 days of the HPV vaccination campaign, over 13000 girls have been vaccinated so far across the LGA.
He attributed the impressive turnout to the vigorous campaigns embarked upon by members of the LGA Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCM), mama2mama and others involved in the pre-rollout activities.
The LGA Health Educator said that the importance of vaccination in the prevention of cervical cancer among women of reproductive age cannot be overemphasised, the more reason it should be embraced by parents.
He commended UNICEF and other donor agencies for the vaccine and other logistics support for the success of the campaign but lamented that the financial support to the frontline health workers should be reviewed upwards.
According to him, the present economic situation of the country should be considered particularly the hike in fuel price which has jerked up cost of transportation.
Some of the volunteers, VCM and mama2mama who were seen on field mobilizing girls for the vaccination expressed happiness that parents are allowing their girls to accept the vaccine having been educated on its authenticity and importance.
Though they are happy doing the job, they appeal for improved working environment considering the economic situation of the country.
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