The Special Adviser to the Governor of Osun State on Public Health, Dr. Akindele Adekunle has identified that Human Papilloma Virus is mostly contacted through Sexual intercourse.
Dr. Akindele made this assertion during an awareness campaign in Osogbo, which was organized by the State Primary Health Care Development Board, to sensitize the public on Human Papilloma Virus.
Dr. Akindele said; “HPV can also be contacted by mother to baby during pregnancy, labor, or nursing. As we all know the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke has put the welfare of the people he governed as a first-line charge under the governance deliverables of his government and this informs the reason why we’ve decided to call on all critical stakeholders that holds the fabric of our society to sensitize,educate, inform and enlighten them on the danger of this menace and the government’s effort in curtailing it.
“This gathering today serves as a prelude to the official flag-off ceremony of the Mass Vaccination Campaign Against Cervical Cancer starting on the 24th of October, 2023.”, Dr. Akindele concluded.
In his welcome address the chairman Osun State Primary Health Development Board Alhaji Adisa Tajudeen Tejuade urged the public to take advantage of the HPV vaccination.
Alh. Adisa stated that Osun State is lucky to be among the sixteen (16) selected States across Nigeria to partake in the first round of the vaccination in the country.
Adisa Tajudeen reiterated Governor Ademola Adeleke’s support for the Global Strategy to accelerate the elimination of Cervical Cancer in Osun State, adding:
“We stand ready to work in partnership with other national stakeholders to ensure that these global commitments are taken forward in Osun State.”
He also called on women leaders to send a strong signal of the importance of cervical health to women in their communities.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) State Coordinator, Dr. Ahmed Bello, identified low level of awareness and late presentation for screening as the leading cause of cancer mortality in Nigeria.
Bello said increased advocacy by multiple stakeholders has led to some level of prioritisation and approval of fund for cancer patients by the Federal Government.
