In a bid to reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer among women in Ekiti State, a non-governmental organization, Girls Effect, has partnered with the State Primary Health Care Development Agency to train and sensitize women religious leaders and media practitioners on Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), its vaccines, and uptake in the state.
The 2-day training program, which took place recently in Ado Ekiti, the state capital aimed to raise awareness about the importance of HPV vaccination in preventing cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria, accounting for 16% of all female cancers, making it a major public health concern.
Speaking at the training program, Mrs. Olajumoke Oguntoye, a Health Educator in Ekiti, emphasized the importance of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer.
“The HPV vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent cervical cancer. We urge all mothers and guardians to take advantage of the free vaccination program for girls between the ages of 9 and 14,” she said.
The training program also highlighted the role of religious and media leaders in creating awareness about HPV and its vaccination.
“We believe that religious and media leaders have a crucial role to play in educating the public about the importance of HPV vaccination. We urge them to use their platforms to spread the message and encourage eligible girls to get vaccinated,” said Mrs Oguntoye.
The State government has designated several health centres across the state where girls can receive the HPV vaccine for free.
The centres include Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital EKSUTH, State Specialist Hospital Ikere, and several Comprehensive Health Centres.
The Girls Effect organization called on stakeholders to intensify awareness efforts to ensure that all eligible girls in Ekiti State receive the HPV vaccine and are protected against cervical cancer.
According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer globally among women with about 31, 421 deaths annually.
