Oyo State Government has launched the Human Papilloma virus (HPV) Vaccine into the Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI) targeting girls between 9-14 years of age in the state.
Speaking during a press conference in Ibadan, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Muideen Olatunji said the Board targets 7.71% of the population.
Dr. Olatunji described cervical cancer as one of the most common forms of cancer that affects women, stressing that the disease must be tackled head-long.
The Executive Secretary said the government has launched the programme at St. Paul Anglican Primary School, Yanbule, Bashorun, where over 300 pupils were vaccinated.
He urged parents and guardians to avail their daughters between 9 and 14 years old, the opportunity to be vaccinated so as to prevent them from contracting cervical cancer.
Dr. Olatunji encouraged every woman who is sexually exposed to ensure they undergo regular cervical cancer screening (pap smear), to prevent the disease.
The ES reassured residents of the State that the vaccine is safe, free and will be available in all healthcare facilities across the state after five days.
Appreciating the development partners for embarking on the exercise with the government, Dr. Olatunji said the campaign targets 639, 049 young girls between the age of 9-14 years.
He stressed that, “Cervical cancer globally accounts for a huge number of deaths and is the fourth among the cancers that kill women in the world”.
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