Ondo Engages Stakeholders on Planned HPV Vaccination Excercise
BY Oluwatosin Ighoteguono
The Ondo state government has urged stakeholders especially parents to ensure the success of the much awaited vaccination against human papilloma virus which kicks off next week Monday.
The permanent secretary, Primary health Care development agency, Dr Francis Akanbiemu gave the charge during a meeting with members of the State Social Mobilization Committee on Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Introduction, in Akure.
Dr Akanbiemu represented by the deputy director disease control, Dr Bunmi Olakunbi said the role of stakeholders in the forthcoming vaccination could not be jettisoned in view of the importance of the HPV Vaccine to women and girls asking them to mobilize massively for the exercise.
Representative of the national primary healthcare development agency in the state , Mr Adetunji Adeoye explained that the federal government believed that women contributed hugely to the society, hence the introduction of the vaccine aimed at preventing the virus that predisposed women to cancer with the target of girls between 9-14yrs.
Also engaging the stakeholders , the state HPV consultant, UNICEF, Mrs Binta Audu who said much advocacy had been done on the HPV vaccine in all 18 local government area of the state, called on stakeholders to urgently inform the primary healthcare agency of any rejection of the vaccine or non availability in their areas.
The UNICEF social and behaviour change specialist, Lagos office , Mrs Aderonke Akinsola- Akinwale urged parents to shun all myths and misconseptions about the vaccine as it was safe for girls and prevents cervical cancer
The Chairman, Ondo state council of traditional rulers and Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladelusi represented by the Asae of Akure, High chief Sola Adegbomire pledged the support of the traditional institution to the success of the exercise.
CAN chairman in Ondo state , Rev. father Anslem Ologunwa and the chief Imam of Gaga, Imam Yusuf Agbesinga while appreciating the primary healthcare development agency both at national and state level for the introduction of the HPV vaccine also pledged to mobilze eligible girls in the places of worship for the vaccination.
