Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has commended the rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in the FCT and Nasarawa State which the federal government recently introduced in the country’s routine immunisation programme.
Head of the HPV Programme at Gavi, Emily Kobayashi, gave the commendation during a field visit to the Government Junior Secondary School (GJSS), Asokoro, Abuja; and the Government Secondary School (GSS), Bakin-Ado, Karu LGA of Nasarawa State, to witness the immunisation sessions.
She said the turnout showed there was an incredible amount of planning, communication and delivery of the vaccines in the schools, as well as partnerships with educationists, communities, religious bodies and traditional leaders, to ensure girls got access to the vaccine.
The Chairman of Karu LGA, James B Thomas, said he had meetings with religious and traditional leaders to sensitise them about the vaccine, enjoining parents to harness every opportunity of vaccination to protect their children against HPV and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
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The Principal of GJSS, Asokoro, Malam Izzi Jaafaru Madaki, said most eligible girls in the school got their parents’ approval to receive the vaccine, noting that a few parents were resistant to getting their children vaccinated.
Hajiya Aminatu Idris, Principal of GSS, Bakin-Ado, called for the introduction of the vaccine for boys and adults considering the huge burden of the disease in Nigeria.
