The Kaduna State Government, in a bold move to safeguard adolescents’ health, has launched the ‘Girl Effect Oya Campaign’, a community-driven initiative targeting cervical cancer and malnutrition, among girls.
The campaign was unveiled at the Gusau Institute in Kaduna, with over 754,304 girls aged 9 to 14 vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the virus responsible for cervical cancer.
Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, represented by Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, described the campaign as “a call to action, a call to move, and a call to protect.”
“This is not just about vaccines and nutrition. It is about our collective duty to protect and empower the next generation of girls in Kaduna State,” she said.
The ‘Oya Campaign’, supported by the UK-based organisation ‘Girl Effect,’ aims to complement the state’s adolescent health strategies by enlisting the support of parents, teachers, religious and traditional leaders to dispel myths and promote early intervention.
According to Balarabe, Kaduna’s HPV immunisation programme, launched in 2024, has positioned the state as a leader in adolescent health across northern Nigeria.
“No child should be lost to a disease we can prevent. Every girl in Kaduna deserves to grow up healthy, strong, and free from preventable diseases,” she stated.
She commended frontline health workers for their role in the campaign’s success and called on stakeholders to drive grassroots conversations in homes, schools, markets, and places of worship to foster a culture of prevention and responsibility.
The Commissioner stressed the state government under Governor Uba Sani will continue to scale up access to vaccines, improved nutrition, and expand adolescent health services to secure a healthier future for girls.
Kaduna’s comprehensive approach is being hailed as a model for integrating adolescent health into routine immunisation and social development policies.
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