The Emir of Bungudu in Zamfara State, Hassan Attahiru, has commended partners for supporting human papillomavirus vaccination against cervical cancer in the state.

Mr Attahiru gave the commendation on Saturday in Bungudu at the sensitisation of community and stakeholders on Phase 2 HPV vaccine roll-out in the state.

The event was part of the campaign and stakeholder engagement exercise on HPV vaccine in the state.

The vaccination exercise is being supported by the International NGO, Gavi, the vaccine alliance to complement the effort of the National Primary Health Care Agency in the fight against cervical cancer.

The emir said that the development partners were playing a greater role in promoting health care services in the state.

He said, “We appreciate Zamfara State Government for engaging various development partners and the payment of counterpart funds for various health care programmes in the state. I am using this medium to call on our people at all levels to continue to support HPV vaccination campaigns against cervical cancer in the state.’’

The traditional ruler cautioned members of the public against any misconception about the vaccine.

He said, “Those discouraging the vaccine are enemies of progress, we should all work together to fight against cervical cancer in our state.

As we just heard, the vaccination is very important to the targeted adolescent girls, we should encourage them to receive the vaccine. Cervical cancer is very dangerous to human health. We should work together and prevent our children from contracting the HPV virus. At our level, the emirate and all district heads will ensure more sensitisation to our people for the success of the vaccination exercise.’’

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Save Mothers and Children Initiative, Aminu Nahuche, said his CSO was engaged by the Direct Consult and Logistics Partners such as International Vaccine Access Centre and Women Advocate for Vaccine Alliance.

He stated, “All the listed partners are supporting the activities of HPV virus vaccination in the state. We operate in three categories, social media mobilisation, community sensitisation and mobilisation of eligible adolescents for vaccination campaigns. We conducted over 100 sensitisation at community level. We spent over one month on social media mobilisation. We are here in Bungudu today to be part of our community and stakeholders engagement to mobilise the eligible adolescents for vaccination.’’

Also speaking, Dr Judith Dike, from the Family Medicine Department, Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, said adolescent girls from 9 to 14 years were targeted for the vaccination.

Mr Dike, who is the State Secretary, Medical and Women’s Association of Nigeria, said a total of 12,000 women were affected by cervical cancer across the country, out of which 8000 women die annually.

“The HPV disease can be spread through sexual intercourse and body sweat among others. The sensitisation campaign covers school, clinics and hospitals as well as out of school adolescent girls. We are determined to achieve over 90 percent of the targeted adolescent girls in the state,” Mr Dike added.

(NAN)