Posted on: Mon 28-08-2023

Technical Officer, World Health Organisation (WHO), for Human Papillomavirus (NPV) in Bauchi State, Mustapha Umar, has said that vaccination against cervical cancer will avert 71,000 deaths among Nigerian women, yearly.

Umar said this in Bauchi, at the weekend, during a stakeholders’ meeting organised by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Integrated Health Programme (IHP), in collaboration with Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD), to enlighten the public on the importance of the vaccine.

He said: “Nigeria’s HPV vaccine introduction for girls of the targeted age group will potentially avert 71,000 deaths yearly, if target coverages are reached. Girls aged nine to 14 years missed during the campaigns will be eligible to get the vaccines from health facilities closest to them.

“Only nine-year-old girls will be targeted in the fixed health facilities in 2025. Based on the global guidance on single dose, and vaccine availability of Gardasil 4, Nigeria will be introduced using a phased approach.”

The government has said the vaccination would commence on September 25, 2023.

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