By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
Following the incessant cases of cancer in Nigeria, the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, ASPHCDA, recently, held a One-Day Expanded Stakeholders’ Sensitization on the introduction of Human Papilloma Virus, HPV Vaccine in Anambra State with a call on the participants to join the Anambra State government in her onerous task of reducing or nipping in the bud the killer disease.
Addressing the stakeholders comprising nursing mothers, traditional rulers, Presidents General, religious leaders, health professionals, CSOs, youth organization as well as media practitioners, the Executive Secretary of ASPHCDA, Pharmacist Mrs. Chisom Uchem, said the objectives of the workshop were to sensitized traditional and religious leaders and many others about Human papillomavirus, HPV and HPV vaccine introduction in Anambra.
Uchenna added that part of the objectives of the workshop was to agree on the specific areas of traditional and religious leaders’ support for HPV vaccine introduction and also to identified the roles and responsibilities of traditional and religious leaders for HPV vaccine introduction in the state.
According to her, it was to secure the commitment and support of traditional and religious leaders as well as other relevant stakeholders for the HPV vaccine introduction, even as she noted that they were committed to providing platforms (programmes) for medical and public health professionals, traditional leaders, religious leaders, content experts, and other influencers to pass messages about the HPV vaccine.
“Air jingles and Public Service Announcements on HPV vaccine, feature news and special reports and programmes on the benefits and safety of HPV vaccine.
“Use own and media stations’ social media handles to educate followers about HPV vaccine, feature HPV vaccine introduction in news and commentaries, use children, youth, women’s, men’s programmes to disseminate messages on HPV vaccine.
“Host professionals and other medical experts in a special programme to talk about HPV vaccine, conduct media field visits to generate real time stories on HPV vaccine” she stated.
In their separate speeches, Sima Unogu of Clinton Health Access Initiative, CHAI; Associate Vaccines Program, Abuja; the UNICEF Consultant, Onyaidu Abraham; the state epidemiologist, Dr. Emembolu; the Director Disease Control and Immunization, Dr. Uliagbafusi Placid; the State Health Educator, Onwuegbuzina Uju and the State Immunization Officer (SIO), Comrade Edith Onwuka, appealed to the participants to ensure that they spread the message in all nook and crannies of the state, even as they stressed the importance of early detection of the disease and the need for regular check ups.
Comrade Onwuka explained that HPV is the most common infection of the reproductive tract and causes more than 95% of cases of cervical cancer as it accounts for the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and the second most common cancer affecting women in Nigeria with an estimate of 12,075 reported new cases and 7,968 deaths recorded in 2020 alone.
“The high burden of cervical cancer is attributed to several factors including, poor access to HPV vaccination services, poor screening and treatment services, low awareness, and inadequate access to healthcare, especially in rural areas.
“HPV is mainly a burden transmitted through sexual contact and most people are affected with HPV shortly after the onset of sexual activity”, she concluded.
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