About 6 million girls aged 9-14 years will receive vaccination with over 6 million doses of Gardasil HPV vaccine and essential supplies under the first phase of HPV vaccination in the country.
According to experts, Nigeria alone contributes an estimated 12,000 new cases of global cervical cancer and 8 thousand deaths annually.
Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) who stated this in Abuja, at a joint briefing with NAFDAC, explained that this translates to 33 new cervical cancer cases and 22 deaths every day in Nigeria.
Dr. Shuiab explained that the vaccine has been scientifically proven to be safe and effective in the prevention of HPV infection and in reducing the risk of cervical cancer in girls, adding that the vaccine would be provided free of charge to all eligible girls in Nigeria commencing on October 24, 2023.
The Executive Director noted that the vaccine is to protect the health of young girls to live a productive and meaningful life.
“Cervical cancer stands as the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria and the second most common cause of cancer-related fatalities among women aged 15 to 49 years. HPV infection has been identified as a high-risk factor implicated in 95% of cervical cancer cases.
“In Nigeria, one precious life is lost every day for 2 minutes to this preventable disease. Regrettably, this disease runs among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in 36 countries including Nigeria.”
“The objective is to ensure 90% of young girls receive complete HPV vaccination by the age of 15, 70% of women undergo screening at both 35 and 45 years of age while 90 % of women identified with precancerous conditions receive appropriate treatment,” he said.
He called on parents, caregivers, and guardians to make their daughters available for the vaccination within commences next week.
In her briefing, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojishola Adeyeye said approval of the vaccine to be used for cervical cancer vaccination followed a rigorous regulatory evaluation process.
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