In a monumental move, Nigeria has unveiled its initiative to introduce the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into the national immunization programme.
The ambitious goal is to vaccinate 7.7 million girls, marking the largest number of girls in Africa to receive a single HPV vaccination round.
This momentous announcement came through a joint statement issued on Tuesday by esteemed organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The donors have joined forces to combat the virus responsible for nearly all instances of cervical cancer.
The comprehensive program targets girls aged 9 to 14 years who will receive a single dose of the vaccine.
This vaccine is highly effective in preventing HPV types 16 and 18, which are known to be the root cause of at least 70 percent of cervical cancers.
The initial phase of this vaccination campaign is scheduled to kick off in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
This phase includes a five-day mass immunisation campaign set to be conducted in schools and communities across the country.
Subsequently, the vaccine will be incorporated into regular immunization schedules within healthcare facilities.
The second phase of vaccine introduction is scheduled for May 2024 in 21 states.
According to the official statement, this initiative could potentially protect over 16 million Nigerian girls with these life-saving injections by the year 2025.
Cervical cancer ranks as the third most common cancer in Nigeria and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women aged 15 to 44.
The grim statistics for 2020 revealed that the country recorded 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths attributed to cervical cancer.
In a statement, Muhammad Ali Pate, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, expressed his concern regarding the alarming death toll of Nigerian women, which stands at approximately 8,000 annually.
He emphasised that these tragic losses are entirely preventable.
He further highlighted the importance of protecting children with a single dose of the vaccine and lauded the commitment to saving lives and enhancing healthcare outcomes.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, emphasized the significance of this vaccination campaign and urged parents to participate actively in safeguarding their daughters against cervical cancer.
He revealed that all of his four daughters have received the same HPV vaccine to protect them against this devastating disease.
Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the WHO Representative in Nigeria, hailed this initiative as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s fight against cervical cancer, a disease that can potentially be eliminated through vaccination.
The World Health Organization recommends including HPV vaccination in national immunization campaigns in countries where cervical cancer is a pressing public health concern and where implementation is cost-effective and sustainable.
Thabani Maphosa, the Managing Director of Country Programmes Delivery at Gavi, underlined the importance of the HPV vaccine in the fight against cervical cancer.
He stated that this initiative provides Nigeria with the most effective tool to combat the disease and collectively save millions of lives.
The introduction of the HPV vaccine in Nigeria marks a significant step in the battle against cervical cancer, and it brings hope for a healthier future for Nigerian girls and women.