Enugu Governor launches vaccination programme to combat cervical cancer

Enugu State’s Governor, Peter Mbah, has officially initiated a comprehensive Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme aimed at preventing cervical cancer among women in the state.

The vaccination, targeting young girls aged 9 to 14, is provided free of charge and accessible at healthcare centers across the state.

The event, which took place in Enugu, was represented by Deputy Governor Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, who stressed the importance of leveraging science to combat preventable cervical cancer.

Governor Mbah urged women in various communities, places of worship, homes, and schools to embrace the vaccine and disregard unfounded claims, emphasizing its certification as safe by global health authorities.

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• Enugu Governor launches vaccination programme to combat cervical cancer

He expressed concern about the spread of false information hindering vaccination efforts and called for collaboration between healthcare authorities, professionals, and women’s organizations to re-educate the public about the vaccine’s safety and the government’s ongoing efforts to prevent diseases.

Governor Mbah also issued a warning against unqualified individuals using social and mainstream media to dispense medical opinions, pledging that the government would take legal action against such actions.

The Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, highlighted the rising prevalence of cervical cancer among women and emphasized the importance of investing in prevention, as cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented.

The vaccination program, running simultaneously in all 17 local government areas of the state, is being administered at primary healthcare centers, schools, places of worship, and various communities.

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The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, praised the timely initiation of the vaccination program and called for support to eliminate this deadly disease. The Chief Medical Director of the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Bertrand Ngwu, pledged dedication to providing medical services in line with professional ethics.

Goodwill messages from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the non-governmental organization FHI360 all affirmed the safety of the vaccine for cervical cancer prevention.