The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) has inaugurated vaccination of girls ages nine to 14 in secondary schools in Nasarawa State, against Human Papilloma Virus(HPV), a major causative agent of cervical cancer.
The HPV vaccination exercise is in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NAPHDA) and other stakeholders.
The director -general of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Malami-Aliyu, inaugurated the exercise at Government Secondary School, Tudun-Kauri in Lafia yesterday.
Represented by Mr Musa Mutiu Terere, Senior Scientific Officer of the institute, the director-general said that the vaccination exercise became imperative considering the devastating effect of HPV in the lives of women.
He said the exercise in Nasarawa State represented the North -Central zone , saying NICRAT intends to take the vaccination exercise to secondary schools across the six geo -political zones of the country.
“This programme shows the commitment of the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to halt cervical cancer, thereby improving the health status of our women.
“The decision of NICRAT to target secondary schools for implementation of this programme is deliberate, considering the number of beneficiaries involved. To achieve maximum outcome, we have, therefore, resolved to take the vaccination to all secondary schools across the six geo -political zones in Nigeria in the first phase,” he said.
Aliyu further said the institute would escalate the vaccination exercise to religious centres and market places in order to ensure that girls in all parts of the country were captured.
“Today’s programme is a testament of our commitment to deliver quality healthcare services to Nigerians leveraging the massive of President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali-Pate and Dr Salako Adekunle,” he said.
He urged girls in secondary schools in Nasarawa State to present themselves for vaccination in order to prevent them from cervical cancer, and to justify government’s investment to safeguard their health.
In his remarks, the executive secretary, Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NAPHDA,Dr Usman Saleh, lauded the federal government through the institute for initiative aimed at eliminating cervical cancer.
Saleh noted that the state government was passionate about issues relating to women and children and would always work with relevant bodies to champion the course of their health and wellbeing.
