Gombe First Lady Flags Off HPV Vaccination for Young Girls
By Muhammad Jamil Abubakar
The Wife of Gombe State Governor, Hajiya Asmau Inuwa Yahaya has flagged of the free Human Papilloma Virus HPV, Vaccines among school children between the ages of 9 to 14 years in Gombe State.
Speaking at the event the First Lady assured the public of the efficacy of the vaccine and urged stakeholders to dispel the negative myths and misconceptions surrounding the vaccines.
Gombe State is one of the 20 States in Nigeria chosen to participate in the phase 2 of the vaccination exercise.
Asmau Inuwa Yahaya said the campaign initiative is part of an ambitious strategy to eliminate cervical cancer in Gombe.
She Commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his continued support in all aspects, particularly the primary healthcare activities including the introduction of the HPV Vaccine.
The First Lady stressed the importance of community engagement and the role of traditional institutions in educating and informing the public about the HPV Vaccines.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Health Dr Habu Dahiru said the exercise will target teenage girls between the ages of 9 to 14 years in schools, communities, religious and social gatherings.
He said about 323 thousand girls are expected to be vaccinated at the end of the exercise, urging community, religious and political leaders to support the initiative by mobilizing their members to participate in the vaccination exercise.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr Abdurahman Shuaib, disclosed that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally and the second most common cancer affecting women in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary represented by the Director Community and Family Health Dr Maryam Abubakar said the vaccines will be available through routine immunization at primary health care centers and other designated spots.
Dr Maryam Abubakar specifically commended development partners such as World Health Organization WHO, United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF and other development partners for their immense contributions in safe guarding the lives of people.
