The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has said that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is highly efficacious in preventing cervical cancer, but not compulsory in the country.
Dr Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director, NPHCDA said this to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the introduction of the vaccine was scheduled to kick off in 16 states – Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Enugu, FCT, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, and Taraba.
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix. Various strains of the HPV, a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancer.
Shuaib said that the HPV vaccine has the potential to prevent more than 90 per cent of HPV-attributable cancers.
He said that it primarily targeted the most common cancer-causing HPV strains.
“Vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer by preventing HPV infection, which is a major risk factor for this type of cancer,” he said.
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He said that it was important to note that the vaccine was not mandatory, and no child would be forced to take it.
“We believe that by providing correct and accurate information about the vaccine, parents will naturally decide to have their daughters vaccinated, just as they did with the COVID-19 vaccine and the polio vaccine in the past.
“In the last six months we have actively promoted the use of the HPV vaccine for girls between the ages of 9 to 14.
“The most important criterion for receiving the vaccine is the age range, rather than any considerations related to virginity.
“We have been engaging with schools, communities, and traditional leaders to provide information and create awareness about the vaccine,” he said.
He acknowledged that there may be concerns and scepticism surrounding vaccines, including the HPV vaccine.
He emphasised the importance of listening to and understanding these concerns and then providing the necessary information to address them.
“It is not the role of scientists to ridicule or castigate those who express concerns, but rather to provide them with the information they need to make informed decisions,” he said.
He said that the government was committed to working with the media, community-based organizations, religious leaders, and traditional leaders to ensure that accurate information about the HPV vaccine was widely available.
“We believe that by doing so, Nigerians will make the right decision to protect their girls against cervical cancer by availing them of this powerful vaccine,” he said.
