HPV Vaccine Drive: Lagos Takes Awareness Campaign To Communities

The Lagos state government has embarked on massive awareness campaign at grassroots level, as an effort to boost the uptake of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPVV).

Recall that Lagos state has reached 478,528 girls with the vaccine as at August, 2024, while aiming to reach one million girls with cancer-blocking HPV shot by year’s end.

To achieve this target, the director of health education and health promotion services, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board (LSPHCB), Mrs. Honfor Grace Adesola, at a townhall meeting organised by LSPHCB and the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria with support from Pathfinder International, said there is need to tackle social media misinformation about the HPVV.

Adesola lamented that due to the misinformation on social media, some parents have negative perceptions about the vaccine that prevents the uptake of HPV. “We have been able to overcome that because of the continuous sensitisation during which we are giving stakeholders the appropriate information. We also refer them to websites where they can get appropriate information,” she added.

“Lagos state is part of the first phase of states to implement HPV vaccination in 2023. It has helped because some parents are bringing their girls to take the vaccine because they saw that the all-girls that took the vaccine last year are healthy,” the director stated, while expressing her appreciation to Pathfinder International for supporting the programme, stating that through their support they have been able to have home meetings with the community where they can bring together the traditional rulers including the ‘Baales,’ community development chairmen (CDC), and religious leaders.

Assistant immunisation programme coordinator, LSPHCB, Dr. Adebanjo Adeniji, stated that the vaccination is for girls and children between the age of 9 and 14 years, adding that, “If the community buy-in has been obtained, then it automatically means that people within the community will be allow their young girls to take this vaccine.Lagos is planning to extend the period to next year to enable all young girls are jabbed with the HPVV.”

President of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Branch, Dr. Funmi Ige, said the HPV has been proven to being a causative factor in cervical cancer, adding that the vaccine is to help reduce the burden of cervical cancer in women. “If our young girls are vaccinated with the HPVV, the chances of them getting cervical cancer when they become sexually active will be very low.”

Ward Health Committee (WHC) Lagos Mainland Chairman of Lagos-Island Alliance, Asunramu Muibat Olarenwaju encouraged everyone to create awareness about the vaccine, adding that “Everybody should go to his or her own house and tell them about this HPV, how important it is and that HPV is safe and is good for our children to take.”