By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has flagged-off immunisation vaccine on ‘Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine’ (HPV) for female children between the ages of 9 and 14, to provide lasting solution to the deadly Cervical Cancer disease affecting female folk.
Adeleke made the flag-off of the programme at Ede High School, Ede local government area of the state.
The Governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, said the present government is always passionate about the well-being of all and sundry in the State and will continue to prioritize the health of the Osun people.
Adeleke commended World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund in (UNICEF), and NIGERIA RED CROSS SOCIETY, among others, for their commitment towards maintaining good health among human race.
He said, “The introduction of the HPV vaccine into our routine immunisation is not just a medical breakthrough, it is a beacon of hope for generations to come. By providing our young girls with this vaccine, we are not merely shielding them from a devastating disease, we are empowering them with the promise of a life unburdened by the fear of cervical cancer.”
He urged all parents, caregivers and guardians to embrace this opportunity by ensuring that every eligible girl receives the HPV vaccine saying, the vaccine is safe and effective.
He also called on the concerned bodies in the education sector to incorporate information about HPV vaccination into their curriculum with a view to fostering understanding and dispelling myths.
Speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Mr Jola Akintola, who gave an account on the disease vulnerability tendency, admonished that the most successful long-term intervention for lowering the risk of cervical cancer is adolescent vaccination before the onset of sexual activities.
In his own remarks, the Chairman, Osun State Primary Healthcare Board, Hon Tajudeen Adisa, encouraged all Osun indigenes and others residing within the State to take their female children, especially those within the age bracket of 9 to 14 years, to the nearest facilities for the HPV vaccine uptake.