The Oyo State Government has achieved a remarkable 98% success rate in its ongoing statewide Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination campaign.
Mr. Samuel Olatunji, UNICEF Consultant, disclosed this achievement in Ibadan during a one-day Social Mobilisation Technical Committee meeting on Thursday.
In May 2024, the Oyo State Government introduced the HPV Vaccine into the State Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI), targeting girls aged 9-14 years. The initiative aimed to cover 7.71% of the population, with cervical cancer identified as one of the most prevalent cancers affecting women.
The campaign began at St. Paul Anglican Primary School, Yanbule, Bashorun, where over 300 pupils received their vaccinations. The campaign aims to reach 639,049 young girls within the target age group.
Olatunji praised the campaign as one of the most successful in the State and urged parents and guardians to ensure their daughters between 9 and 14 years old receive the vaccine to protect against cervical cancer.
He also recommended that sexually active women undergo regular cervical cancer screenings (pap smears) as a preventive measure.
“We have succeeded in recording 98% coverage of the population,” Olatunji stated, commending the partners and the Primary Health Care Board for their collaboration.
He reassured residents that the vaccine is safe, free, and will be available in all healthcare facilities across the state after five days.
Emphasizing the preventable nature of cervical cancer, Olatunji noted, “Cervical cancer is a serious, and second most fatal cancer that affects women, especially those of productive age.
However, it’s important to note that cervical cancer is a preventable disease, which can be controlled through routine HPV vaccination.”
Olatunji also addressed the need to overcome hesitations and rejections from some local governments, highlighting the involvement of relevant stakeholders in schools to address these issues.
Mrs. Aderonke Akinola Akinwole, UNICEF Social Behavioural Change Specialist, highlighted Oyo State’s leadership in the second phase of the vaccination campaign across the South-West.
She noted significant improvements from the first phase and called for increased collaboration with stakeholders and MDAs to address gaps such as parental engagement and school coordination.
Akinwole pointed out that engaging parents through religious leaders was key to Oyo State’s leading position in the region, stating, “Across the 33 LGAs, parents were engaged through their religious leaders.
This led to Oyo State achieving the highest level of coverage in the Southwest.”
She also mentioned that the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adelabu, approved the vaccine’s administration in schools across the State.
“In fact, Oyo State is overwhelmed, as the demand for the vaccine exceeds its supply,” she added.
