By Ovat Abeng
Anambra Government through the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (APHCDA), has flags off free vaccination of Human Papiloma virus vaccine (HPV) in the state.
The flagged off ceremony took place at Michael Tansi Secondary School, Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of the State, on Tuesday.
Declaring the exercise open, the state governor’s wife and the founder of Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, Dr. Nonye Soludo, announced that the free vaccination will help curbed the spreed of cervical cancer among women in the state.
She also noted that the vaccination will provide lasting solution to cervical cancer.
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According to Mrs Soludo, “Today is a significant day in our journey towards enhancing the health and well-being of women and girls.
“We have gathered here to address a pivotal development in the realm of public health-the introduction of the Human Papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine for girls aged 9 to 14 years.
“I am deeply honoured to stand before you as we embark on this important initiative that promises to safeguard the future of our children and tackle a significant health challenge head-on.
“Cervical Cancer is a scourge of our society and is fast becoming one of the leading causes of deaths among women.
“Every year in Nigeria, cervical cancer silently manifests in about 12,000 women and takes the lives of 8000 promising women.
“This disease 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 the state to provide early detection, screening and treatment for the wives and daughters of Ndi Anambra.
“Let us come out en masse and get ourselves and our daughters 25 years and above screened to know our health status.
“Ndi Anambra, something great is happening in our state. I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the efforts of the state government who through the Ministry of Health and the Anambra State Primary Health care development Agency (ASPHCDA) and Partners, WHO, UNICEF, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), IVAC and SAWO are supporting our efforts by taking our home-grown campaign of healthy living to the next level.
The women of our future generation no longer have to wait and hope that “cervical cancer will not be their portion.” Solution is here!
“Human Papilloma Virus (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.
“No husband will become wifeless and no child will be rendered motherless in Anambra state because of cervical cancer.
“The government of Anambra state has done well to support our initiatives. Ndi Anambra, I enjoin you to do well to support our government in protecting our families.
Traditional Rulers and Religious leaders, pass the good news to your congregants and subjects. Get your girl child aged 9-14 years vaccinated against HPV to protect them from Cervical Cancer.
“Teachers, open your schools and allow all your 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.
“Our children and our future, come out and get vaccinated. Tell all your friends aged 9-14 year old that you are going to take the HPV vaccine to protect your future from Cervical Cancer!
“The HPV Vaccine is free! Safe! Effective!”
In closing, 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. We re-iterate our commitment to reducing the burden of cervical cancer on Anambra and providing our girls with a healthier, brighter future, the governor’s wife concluded.
In their separate remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike and the Executive Secretary/CEO of ASPHCDA, Pharm. (Mrs.) Chisom Uchem, said the vaccine is expensive and out of the reach for most parents in Anambra but the state government under governor Chukwuma Soludo’s watch is providing this vaccine free of charge and one of the reasons why Gardasil HPV vaccine was selected is the fact that it is a one dose vaccine that offers a life long protection,” the duo affirmed.
In his brief contribution, the South East Coordinator of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Chukwumunya Igboekwu, noted that Anambra State has already taking the lead in prevention of the virus through the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative.
