The Enugu State government has disclosed that no fewer than 220,000 girls have been vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) to prevent cervical cancer.
The exercise, according to Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, who spoke with journalists in Enugu on Sunday took place between October 24 and 29, recording a 66 per cent coverage rate.
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and is the causative factor of more than 95 per cent of cases of cervical cancer among women.
Many people with HPV do not develop symptoms and can infect others through sexual contact. Symptoms may include warts on the genitals or on surrounding skin.
There is no cure for the virus and warts may go away on their own.
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The vaccine that prevents the HPV from causing genital warts and cervical cancer is recommended for boys and girls.
Ani-Osheku explained that the vaccination was done in schools, worship centres and other public places where girls of the age range of nine years to 14 years were found.
She rated the success rate of the HPV vaccination at more than 66 per cent, which she said was highly commendable on a newly-introduced vaccine.
Ani-Osheku said, “Enugu State got about 244,000 vials of the HPV vaccine and we have been able to vaccinate 220,000 girls.
“That puts our success rate to over 66 per cent. And I will say that for us and for a new vaccine, that is highly commendable.
“What we want to achieve by 2024 is that every girl child between nine years and 14 years old is vaccinated and we are able to immunise up to 90 per cent of them.’’
She explained that initial resistance to the vaccine was understandable as it was new, but expressed satisfaction that the agency was able to convince the people that it was safe and effective.
She said now that the vaccination campaign was over in schools and in public places, the HPV vaccine had been introduced into routine immunisation in primary healthcare centres.
