The World Health Organisation (WHO) has invested over $50,000 in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for girls aged nine to 14 years in Yobe.

The WHO state coordinator, Alhassan Hamisu, disclosed this during the inauguration of the campaign on Tuesday in Damaturu.

He said the fund would support pre-implementation training, implementation and post-implementation activities, including post-campaign monitoring and spot-checks.

Mr Hamisu added that “this investment is in addition to WHO’s ongoing support for the state’s response to cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), residual diphtheria outbreak and routine support to the healthcare system.”

The coordinator explained that the HPV vaccination campaign is to protect girls aged nine to 14 from the harmful effects of cervical cancer.

The coordinator added that over the next five days, 565 schools and community teams would work together to vaccinate eligible girls across the state in schools and out-of-school campuses.

He reiterated WHO’s commitment to support the Yobe government’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of the people, emphasising the organisation’s role as the global technical lead for health.

The health commissioner, Lawan Gana, said the vaccine was safe for humans and effective in protecting against HPV infection.

“HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world and a leading cause of cervical cancer among women,” he added.

He noted that cervical cancer in Nigeria is recognised as the most common cancer and the second most frequent cause of death among women aged between 35 and 44 years.

“It is on this note that Yobe coordinates and collaborates with all stakeholders at all levels to ensure that all eligible girls aged 9 to 14 years are actually reached with the single shot of the HPV vaccine,” Mr Gana said.

(NAN)