Khadijah Aliyu
In a bid to eradicate cervical cancer, a non-governmental organization, Pathfinder International, has embarked on a project to raise awareness and increase uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Nigeria.
The project in collaboration with the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Cancer Society and government agencies, aims to educate communities on the importance of HPV vaccination through advocacy, outreach, and communication campaigns.
However, a training session for volunteer community mobilizers VCMs was organized by Pathfinder International in collaboration with the Kano state primary healthcare management board KNSPHCMB to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to promote HPV vaccine awareness.
Similarly, a town hall meeting was convened in Ungoggo Local Government Area (LGA) to sensitize Ward Development Committees on HPV and cervical cancer.
In her remarks, the health educator Ungoggo local government area Jummai Ahmed urged Women to present themselves and their daughters for cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccine.
She stressed that, as health educators and promoters they would do everything possible to make sure that women and young girls receive the HPV vaccine to protect them against the disease.
The WDC chairman in Ungoggo LGA Kabiru Salisu described the town hall meeting as apt and pledged to mobilize community members and leaders to support the initiative.
He said Pathfinder international is the first NGO to engage Ungoggo LGA on HPV vaccine.
The WDC chairman Tudun Fulani Ward Jamilu Jajira acknowledged the town hall meeting as an eye-opener on cervical cancer and committed to ensuring women and girls receive the HPV vaccine.
He noted that, they have done their best in terms of routine immunization and would do more to ensure women and girls receive the vaccine.
Highlights of the town hall meeting includes sensitization on the availability of HPV vaccine to protect young girls and discussions surrounding misconceptions and how to improve HPV vaccine uptake across communities.