By Dickson Omobola

A non-governmental organisation, Pathfinder Nigeria, has urged female residents in Lagos to get the human papillomavirus vaccine, HPV, saying cervical cancer is a killer disease.

The organisation said this in Lagos at a town hall meeting it held in partnership with Lagos State Primary Health Care Board for religious leaders, community stakeholders and traditional leaders.

Senior Media and Communication Officer at Pathfinder Nigeria, Bayo Ewuola, explained that the HPV vaccine was not only safe but effective in preventing cervical cancer.

Ewuola, who lamented that Lagos has the lowest HPV vaccine coverage, with a little bit above 50 per cent of eligible girls vaccinated, said when compared to other states, Lagos was lagging behind.

He said although some states had achieved almost 100 per cent coverage, the desire to increase awareness on vaccination was what stimulated the event to sensitise residents.

He also emphasised that the vaccine was approved by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and was available for free until December.

President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Lagos branch, Dr Fumi Ige, on her part, highlighted the importance of vaccinating girls between the ages of nine and 14 before they become sexually active.

Ige said: “The idea is that when our girls aged nine to 14 should get vaccinated. We believe that at this age, they are not yet sexually active and chances of HPV are slim. So, when they get vaccinated, the chances of them having cervical cancer is slim too. That is why it is too important. That does not mean that older ones cannot get. However, they (women about 14) have to be screened for cervical cancer before they can get the vaccine.”

Meanwhile, traditional leaders from various communities pledged to take the message back to their domains, saying they would encourage parents to allow their girls to be vaccinated.

Senior special assistance on ethnic affairs in Egbe Idimu Local Government Area,  Mr Emmanuel Okorigbo, said there was an urgent need to address ignorance and misconceptions about the vaccine, and called on government to provide funding to support the campaign to  ensure the message reaches the grassroots.