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By Ridwanullahi odofin
Kwara State is among the 22 states that would benefit from the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer for girls between the ages of 9-14 in the second phase of the exercise.
The Director, Primary Health Care System, Dr. Michael Oguntoye disclosed this to newsmen at the state engagement with media stakeholders in Kwara State for the introduction of HPV vaccine, held in Ilorin, the state capital.
Dr. Oguntoye said the vaccine, under the HPV Vaccine Acceleration Program Partners Initiative (HAPPI) Consortium, was previously introduced in 15 states including the FCT for the phase one, with the aim of preventing girls against cervical cancer.
He noted that the First Lady of Kwara State, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq will flag off the exercise in Kwara on the 27th of May for over 300,000 girls in schools and out of school across the state in the space of five days
In a presentation, the State Social Mobilization Officer with KWPHDA, Dr Dupe Shittu, said HPV can be transmitted through sexual intercourse or skin to skin contact.
Dr Shittu explained further that the infection affects both males and females but more pronounced in females because it predisposes them to cervical cancer.
She added that while one dose of HPV vaccine will protect one for a lifetime, sexually active girls’ children need to verify their HPV status before taking the vaccine.
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