Introduction of HPV vaccinations by FG 25 September

On September 25, 2023, the Federal Government announced that it would launch the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine to protect women and girls against cervical cancer.At the biannual review conference of religious leaders on primary healthcare delivery in Abuja on Monday, the FG made this revelation.According to the government, girls between the ages of nine and fifteen who receive the HPV vaccine will not develop cervical cancer.One kind of cancer that affects the cells of the cervix is called cervical cancer.

A sexually transmitted infection called HPV, in its various strains, is responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.It is possible that the HPV vaccine will prevent over 90% of malignancies linked to HPV.Nearly 50% of high-grade cervical pre-cancers are thought to be caused by two HPV varieties (16 and 18), which are prevalent in Nigeria, according to the World Health Organisation. An estimated 14,000 women in Nigeria receive a cervical cancer diagnosis, and 7,968 of them pass away from the illness each year.

During the review meeting, Dr. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, stated that in order to address health concerns, a combination of spiritual and scientific knowledge and abilities was necessary. Dr. Emmanuel Odu, the Senior Special Adviser to the Minister, represented the Minister in the speech.

“We are aware that some of our religious organisations provide healthcare services at the primary, secondary, and even tertiary healthcare levels. I acknowledge the contributions of our faith-based community to healthcare delivery in the country,” the speaker stated. I think this is fantastic and I encourage you to continue, since the government cannot accomplish this on its own.

“Under the direction of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, the FG is committed to changing the narrative by providing affordable and accessible health care to every Nigerian.” Therefore, in order to implement the FG’s agenda for the health of our people, we shall require the religion community’s help. Your influence will be crucial to fostering community ownership of all our health treatments and establishing trust.

During his speech, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, urged religious leaders to assist in educating their followers about the free HPV vaccination, debunk myths and misconceptions surrounding the vaccine, and inspire them to adopt healthier lifestyles.

“We will be introducing the HPV vaccine on September 25 this year, which prevents cervical cancer when given to our daughters between the ages of nine and 15 years,” Shuaib declared.As spiritual mentors, you possess the ability to sway people’s opinions and attitudes, and your words have authority and motivate behaviour.

I implore you to work together with the medical community to advocate for HPV vaccination across the country today. By promoting HPV vaccination among your congregants, you take on the role of protectors of health and life. The HPV vaccination is a symbol of our shared humanity and the value of life, not just a medical advancement.

“You must talk about how to feed the common man when you are talking about the health issues of our people,” stated Sultan Abubakar III, President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. What medication works without food? Government needs to acknowledge this fact, since if nothing is done, it will get worse the following year.

I’m not speculating, but the problems we observe in the real world require us to work on ourselves.”We are really optimistic that we will emerge from the woods. We still have hope. While I am not running for office on behalf of Asiwaju’s Renewed Hope, we still need to have faith in Allah Ta’ala, the Almighty, and our own self-improvement.

This forum will go over all health-related concerns, including achievements, setbacks, and necessary actions. Ready to take the necessary action. We, the traditional and religious leaders, are reliable to the government. We support informing the public about the actions taken by the government.

When the government acts honourably, we applaud them; when they act dishonestly, we advise them against continuing in that direction.Rev. Joseph spoke on behalf of Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, who stated that the religious organisation is happy that primary health care is starting to receive the attention it merits.

“What’s more, religious leaders are provided with a platform for examination and discussion regarding the state of this specific area of our country’s life. Many Nigerians still would rather listen to their religious leaders on health matters than to their doctors or the government.

“Our health institutions have long collaborated with the government, particularly for primary health care, and our places of worship have been used for sensitization campaigns and vaccination administration.”We are hopeful that better healthcare will become available with initiatives like these, especially for those living in rural areas.”