HPV vaccine: UNICEF commended for taking lead in implementation

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been commended for taking the lead in the campaign against cervical cancer in women of reproductive age through the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine.

Caretaker Chairman of Toro Local Government Area (LGA) in Bauchi State, Comrade Danlami Garba Tashan Durumi, commended UNICEF’s leadership in this vital initiative during a discussion with journalists in his office as part of an assessment tour of the ongoing vaccination program for girls aged 9-14 in Toro LGA.

He emphasised that without UNICEF’s leadership and the cooperation of other development partners, this campaign would have posed significant challenges, particularly given the country’s economic circumstances.

Garba Tashan Durumi specifically applauded UNICEF for its efforts in training community volunteers, including Mama2mama members, Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCM), and Behavioral Community Mobilizers (BCM). These volunteers have been diligently visiting households to mobilize people for vaccination.

“The importance of these groups cannot be overstated in the success of the campaign because they are the true frontline workers whose contributions are immense,” he stated.

The Caretaker Chairman also called for an increase in the allowances of these volunteers, recognising the current economic challenges facing the country. He highlighted that some villages in the LGA are accessible only by motorcycle, which the volunteers often have to pay for from their meager allowances.

Despite these challenges, Garba Tashan Durumi expressed optimism that the vaccination target for girls in the LGA will be met, attributing the high level of response and compliance to the effective mobilization efforts of the volunteers.

The Director of Primary Healthcare in the LGA, Rahmatu Isiyaku Ningi, also shared her insights on the vaccination exercise. She noted, “From the day we started up to today, it’s evident that people are accepting the vaccines very well.” According to her, people are actively seeking the vaccine due to extensive sensitization carried out by various resource groups within the LGA. UNICEF community mobilizers collaborated with religious leaders, including Imams and members of the Church, to convey the importance of the vaccine and the risks associated with cervical cancer.

Director Rahmatu Isiyaku Ningi emphasized the role of government collaboration in ensuring the availability of these vaccines, expressing gratitude to both the government and UNICEF for their efforts in providing essential vaccines to the community.