The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) says it is set to commence the second phase of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination campaign.
The Director of Disease Control and Immunization at NPHCDA, Rufai Garba, disclosed this at a one-day sensitization meeting with women’s religious groups in Abuja on Friday.
In October 2023, the Nigerian government launched the first phase of integrating the HPV vaccine into the routine immunization system, aiming to reach over seven million girls aged nine to 14.
The first phase encompassed 16 states, including Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory.
The second phase will encompass the remaining states – Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Garba noted that despite the challenges, the country has begun the distribution of the vaccine to states, noting that the second phase will commence on 27 May.
“Every nine to 14-year-old girl deserves protection. HPV vaccine shields them from common strains of HPV that could lead to cervical cancer,” he said.
He said the NPHCDA also met with traditional and religious leaders to educate them about HPV and the importance of the vaccine.
The agency on its X handle stated that “The @Fmohnigeria, through the @NphcdaNG, in collaboration with development partners, is gearing up to introduce the HPV vaccine to Phase 2 implementing states in Nigeria.
“To ensure a smooth rollout, they’re organizing a one-day sensitization meeting with Traditional and Religious leaders.
“The meeting aims to educate these leaders about HPV and the importance of the vaccine.“
HPV, Cervical cancer
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that silently precedes various types of cancers, including cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer, a type of cancer that develops in a woman’s cervix, is the fourth most common cancer among women globally.
In Nigeria, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths among women aged between 15 and 44.
Although the causes of cancer are unknown, 14 out of the 100 types of HPV strains have been identified to cause at least 99 per cent of cervical cancer cases.
According to WHO, HPV types 16 and 18 cause at least 70 per cent of cervical cancers and pre-cancerous cervical lesions.
There is also evidence linking HPV with cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, penis, and oropharynx.
WHO estimates that cervical cancer could be the first cancer to be eliminated if 90 per cent of girls are vaccinated against HPV, 70 per cent of women are screened, and 90 per cent of women with the disease receive treatment.