On Tuesday, the wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo, flagged free Human Papilloma Virus, HPV Vaccines across the state and its introduction into the State Routine Immunization.
The ceremony held at the Michael Tansi Secondary School Aguleri, Anambra East Council Area of the state, marks the commencement of the health service, targeted at reducing the burden of cervical cancer in the state.
The vaccines which will be available at the various Primary Health Centres, PHCs across the state, are for girls from ages 9 to 14.
The initiative is driven by the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Agency, ANSPHCDA in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health, with support from partners including the World Health Organization, WHO, UNICEF, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), IVAC, and SAWO.
Performing the flag off, the Anambra first lady, Mrs Soludo Said Cervical Cancer is fast becoming one of the leading causes of death among women, noting that every year in Nigeria, cervical cancer silently manifests in about 12,000 women and takes the lives of 8000 promising women.
The disease, she said, “destroys the lives of these women taking them away from their families just as they reach the prime of their lives, leaving husbands without wives, children without mothers, and families in financial ruins.
“In my capacity as the first lady of Anambra state through the healthy living initiative, we are already offering free cervical cancer screening and treatment at some health facilities in Anambra state to provide early detection, screening, and treatment for the wives and daughters of Anambra. Let us come out en masse and get ourselves and our daughters 25 years and above screened to know our health status.
“Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine is here to provide lasting protection for our girl child aged 9-14 years before they get exposed to the virus that is the primary cause of Cervical Cancer! Cervical cancer is going to become a thing of the past in Anambra state! With this Gardasil4 HPV vaccine, we will protect our girls and future leaders from this disease.”
She called on traditional rulers and religious leaders to advance the message, urging teachers to open their schools and allow all eligible pupils and students to get vaccinated.
“Parents and guardians, take your eligible daughters and wards to the Primary Health Centres (PHC) and designated vaccination points to get vaccinated and protect their futures.
“The introduction of the HPV vaccine for girls aged 9 to 14 years marks a significant milestone in our mission to improve the health and well-being of our state’s young girls,” she said.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike while noting that the vaccine costs twenty-four thousand naira, noted that the major beneficiaries of the vaccines will be those who cannot afford it and may not be able to thank the state government.
According to him, the Soludo administration is carefully securing the well-being of the Anambra children through a systematic approach.
“From the free antenatal and free delivery policy to the free HPV vaccines, up to the free education initiative and many others, the Soludo regime has shown genuine commitment to the development of the Anambra child.
“The state government has also recruited over 1000 health workers including nurses and doctors, rehabilitated PHCs and is building many general hospitals, all aimed at increasing access to healthcare services, especially at the hard to reach areas,” he posited.
Obidike called on the health workers to ensure that the vaccines are given at no cost to the beneficiaries, warning that through constant supervision they will ensure that defaulters are punished.
Pharmacist Chisom Uchem, who is the Executive Secretary, ANSPHCDA revealed that after the flag-off, the vaccination will continue at the PHCs.
She said the vaccines are free, safe, and of potent effect.
On his part, the Chairman, of Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Tony Muobike, said the governor’s wife has through her healthy living initiative, changed the lifestyle of the people, saying the House will provide every legislative backing needed for the governor’s vision for the people in the area of health to find expression.
In their separate goodwill messages, the WHO Zonal Coordinator for Southeast, Dr Chukwumuanya Igboekwu and Obiora Agbakwulu of the National PHCDA, noted that the state was achieving the milestone because of the commitment of the state government, commending the governor’s wife for being a cervical cancer champion.
They assured of their support to ensure full implementation of the initiative.
The governor’s wife in the company of the dignitaries at the event afterward demonstrated how the HPV vaccines would be administered, while performances by the host school and the Nonye Soludo Healthy Living Club formed the high points of the ceremony.
