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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State has successfully launched a war against the deadly virus, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer in women. The state has vaccinated girls between the ages of nine and 14 against the virus.
Medical experts described HPV as a virus that lives on male tract, the penis and that during sexual intercourse it is transferred to women.
They disclosed that when the virus enters into a woman’s vagina, it enters into the neck of the womb of the woman known as cervix and begin to change the nomenclature of the cervix and become cancerous. Wife of the state governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, who led the war against the disease, advised mothers to vaccinate their girl children against cervical cancer.
There were concerns by some members of the public that the vaccination against HPV would be harmful to their children. But the governor’s wife administered the vaccine on her daughter to dismiss the fears.
Mrs. Nwifuru noted that the vaccine was of immense benefit to the girl-child as it would prevent her from having cervical cancer in the future.
“The good thing is that we know the benefit of this vaccine and that is why I have to come out this early morning to join in this road walk to tell the people of Ebonyi State that we need this vaccine.
“We thank the Federal Ministry of Health and RHI for providing this vaccine. I have never seen such a thing and I’m glad that my daughter was the first to take the vaccine. At least I can sleep with my two eyes closed, knowing in future I won’t have to bother about her having cervical cancer.
“So I’m advising all Ebonyi women wherever you are to bring out your children to take this vaccine. It is very safe, my daughter is at home healthy, I am even praying that the Federal Ministry of Health will bring out a similar vaccine for the young boys so that they can equally benefit,” she said.
The President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria in the state, Dr. Nwobashi Lillian, explained that the virus is transmitted to females through sexual intercourse.
“HPV is Human Papillomavirus. What we did and have continued to do is to create awareness because we have brought in a vaccine that counters the effect of the HPV on women.
“HPV as a virus lives on the male tract, male penis and along that tract, we have found out that during sexual intercourse it is transferred to women. When it enters into a woman’s vagina, it enters into the neck of the womb, a place we call the cervix. When it is attached there, it starts changing the nomenclature of that place. With time, those cell changes can become cancerous. And that is when we start saying that a woman has cancer of the cervix.
“There is a reason why we are screaming. In fact, for private firm people that are using this vaccine, it costs between N30, 000 and N50, 000. Now that it is free, it is your best chance to get this vaccine for your children,” she said.
The state Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma noted that cervical cancer was among the commonest cancers that kill women.
“Apart from breast cancer, the second most common cancer in women is cervical cancer and this cancer has caused the death of many women. Luckily for us, this is one of the cancers that the cause is known and what causes it is HPV.
“We are here to create awareness about HPV vaccine. Another thing is that this HPV we are talking about has vaccine against it. We are urging everybody, parents, caregivers to bring out their girl children between the ages of nine and 14 years for this immunisation,” he stated.
The Commissioner and representatives of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners monitored the progress of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination in schools across the state.
Speaking at Green Land College, Nkaliki in Abakaliki Local Government Area, the Commissioner commended the principal of the school for allowing the female students aged nine to 14 years to come out in their numbers to receive vaccination against the virus.
Ekuma, who described cervical cancer as the second most common cancer among women in developing countries like Nigeria, said the vaccination was free and enjoined parents and guardians to release their female children and wards within the age range for the vaccination.
He said: “It is a preventable disease because it’s not like other cancers. Many other cancers, the exact cause is not known but in cervical cancer, the cause is known and that is Human Papillomavirus and this HPV also has vaccine against it. So why should we allow our women to die of something that we know the cause and we know the vaccine that can be used to prevent it,” he queried. The commissioner, who maintained that governments – both federal and state – as well as development partners paid heavily to make the vaccine available, advised parents to take advantage of the opportunity to make sure that no child dies as a result of the deadly disease.
The Principal of Green Land College, Abakaliki, Mr. Victor Uzor said that the students were coming out class by class to access it, contrary to rumours.
He called for more sensitisation to enable parents and guardians allow their children to receive the vaccination freely, adding that some children were warned by their parents not to take the vaccine.
“There are a lot of rumours on the social media. So many parents have been calling; about three have called me this morning and said that their children should not be part of it.
“But after the health workers have explained that the vaccine is safe and effective and actually not for everybody but for female children between nine and 14 years, and that it is against cervical cancer; with my knowledge, I think it’s necessary. That’s why I allowed them.”
Some of the vaccinated students that spoke, including Miss Uchechukwu Blessing and Miss Okeh Nkechi, thanked the government and partners for the initiative.
