…As over 484,761 girls vaccinated against HPV, Sanwo-Olu targets 7.7m
By Sodiq Adelakun
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is leading an effort to combat cervical cancer in Lagos, positioning the state as a point of contact which revolves around public health reform in Nigeria.
His administration’s approach is multifaceted, does not focus only on immediate intervention but also on long-term prevention.
One of the methods of the governor’s strategy is the inclusion of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Lagos’s routine immunization schedule.
HPV is known to cause cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers, and the vaccination initiative targets young girls aged 9-14.
According to the College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, often without noticeable symptoms, but it can lead to severe conditions like genital warts and, most alarmingly, cervical cancer.
Also, First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has been instrumental in this initiative, actively promoting the HPV vaccine’s safety and efficacy.
Through her leadership, over 484,761 girls have been vaccinated in the state, and the target is to reach 7.7 million girls.
This is part of a wider campaign that also includes public awareness programs, routine cervical cancer screenings, and key collaborations with health stakeholders.
The governor’s administration also reiterated the need for regular screening, recommending that women undergo pap smears every three years starting from the age of 21.
These preventive measures are expected to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer significantly.