Cervical Cancer: Kwara To Vaccinate Schoolgirls

The Kwara State government, on Tuesday, said it will ensure that the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, which will soon be introduced, is taken to secondary schools in all nooks and crannies of the state.

The State’s Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, gave the assurance when the advocacy team from the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency visited her in her office in Ilorin, the state capital.

The HPV vaccine will protect girls between the ages of 9-14 years from cervical cancer.

The commissioner emphasised that her ministry will do everything humanly possible to make the programme a success, adding that every organisation and relevant stakeholders will be consulted.

She expressed optimism that the programme will be given adequate priority, while urging the members of the team to abide by the laid down principles guiding their work during the exercise and make Kwara the best.

Earlier, the team leader, who is the director of Primary Health Care System, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, had disclosed that the purpose of the visit was to intimate the ministry about the programme.

He applauded the state government for its efforts in bringing healthcare delivery to the doorsteps of the people at affordable cost.