The Nigerian government has disclosed plans to introduce the lifesaving Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to protect teenage girls against cervical cancer and other related diseases.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, made this known during the bi-annual review meeting of religious leaders on PHC Delivery in Abuja on Monday.
Mr Shuaib said the government will begin the rollout of the HPV vaccines on 25 September for girls between the ages of 9 and 15.
“This cervical cancer affecting our mothers, sisters and daughters is caused by HPV,” he said.
“On 25 September this year, we will be introducing the HPV vaccine that prevents cervical cancer when given to our daughters between 9 and 15 years.”
HPV and Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer, a type of cancer that develops in a woman’s cervix, is the fourth most common cancer among women globally. Experts said in 2018 alone, it caused an estimated…
