Cervical cancer: Stakeholders urged to embrace HPV vaccine
A management consulting firm, Sydani Group, has called for collaboration between the government and stakeholders to create widespread acceptance of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine to eliminate cervical cancer in the country.
The firm made the call in a press statement on Wednesday signed by the Project Lead, Grace Erekosima.
HPV is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract, mainly transmitted through sexual contact, and most people become infected with HPV shortly after the onset of sexual activity.
HPV vaccines are vaccines that prevent infection by certain types of Human Papillomavirus. The HPV vaccines have the potential to prevent more than 90 per cent of HPV-attributable cancers.
According to the United Nations, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths among women aged between 15 and 44 years in Nigeria. In 2020 – the latest year for which data is available – the country recorded 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths from cervical cancer.
However, vaccination against HPV and screening and treatment of pre-cancer lesions are cost-effective ways to prevent cervical cancer.
Sydani Group said the alarming figures attributed to cervical cancer underscore the urgency of addressing the disease.
It highlighted that “To combat this growing health issue, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and with the support of Gavi and partners like Sydani Group, rolled out the HPV vaccine as part of Nigeria’s routine immunisation schedule.”
Recall that on October 24, 2023, the Federal Government introduced the first phase of the HPV vaccine into the routine immunisation system, targeting over seven million nine to 14 girls, which is the largest number in a single round of HPV vaccination in the African region.
The first phase encompassed 16 states, including Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory.
The nationwide introduction, beginning in October 2023, aims to protect young girls from HPV before they are exposed to the virus.
The second phase of the rollout began on May 27, 2024.
The second phase encompassed Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
According to Sydani Group, stakeholders played a crucial role in advocating for the vaccine rollout, fostering awareness, and addressing misconceptions about the HPV vaccine.
“Traditional leaders, such as Alhaji Isa Idris, the Chief of Jiwa, mobilised their communities, and urged them to prepare for the vaccine’s introduction. Similarly, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools in Benue State was instrumental in cascading information about the vaccine to various communities, emphasizing the importance of protecting adolescent girls.
“This collective effort at both the governmental and grassroots levels is essential to achieving widespread acceptance of the vaccine. Despite some initial hesitancy, particularly due to a lack of knowledge, advocacy visits and community engagement have significantly boosted acceptance. These efforts aim to address the public’s concerns, ensuring that the target population of girls aged nine to 14 is adequately vaccinated.
“As the HPV vaccine routinisation continues, stakeholders are encouraged to further intensify their efforts. By working in collaboration with key partners like Sydani Group, NPHCDA, and state governments, Nigeria is making significant strides toward eliminating cervical cancer and improving public health outcomes for future generations,” it added
