In Nasarawa girls between ages 9 and 14 years are to receive vaccination protecting them against cervical and breast cancers.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday in Lafia, the Executive Secretary, Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NAPHDA) Dr. Mohammed Addis, disclosed that the state government has this plan.
Dr Addis explained that the vaccine had been procured already and is currently beung stored in the state for onward distribution to various centres, adding that Nasarawa State is among the 16 states in the country selected for the first phase of the implementation of the vaccine.
He therefore commended President Bola Tinubu, Governor Abdullahi Sule and Dr. Fa’Isal Shua’Ib, Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, for their roles in ensuring the availability of the vaccine in the pilot states.
The Executive Secretary was represented at the occasion by Programme Manager, State Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre, Ismaila Oko, who on his part, said that cervical and breast cancers account for about 50 per cent of all cancer-related mortality.
He said, “Based on National Demographic Health Survey conducted in 2018, cervical and breast cancers account for about 50 per cent of cancer related mortality.
“And the survey also revealed that out of 10 women diagnosed with cancer, only two are likely to survive at the end of the day.”
The programme manager further explained that it was the result of the survey that prompted the Federal Government and other partners to develop the vaccine.
He said that the vaccine would be administered for seven days in all communities at the 13 local government areas of the state.
He explained that their staff would visit houses, schools and worship centres within the period to ensure that the targeted girls are given the vaccine.
Similarly, the Director, Health Education and Social Mobilisation at the NAPHDA, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the stakeholders meeting was designed to carry community leaders along in the project.
He explained that the community leaders are expected to help in enlightening the public about the introduction of the new vaccine to protect women against cancer.
He added that the vaccine had passed the clinical examinations and approved by all the relevant agencies at the international and national levels.
He further said that the vaccine was certified and cleared by the relevant authorities and therefore safe for use.
Present at the meeting were representatives of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’Atu Nasril Islam (JNI), media, LGA Coordinators of National Orientation Agency, Heads of Primary Healthcare Centres from the LGAs among others.
The meeting also featured a questions and answers session.
