Adebayo Adenrele
…fresh initiative underway for boychild, says Commissioner for Health
Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, the wife of Ekiti state governor, Biodun Abayomi on Monday flagged off the Human Paappiloma Virus (HPV) Vaccination exercise against cervical cancer among women.
Speaking at the flagging off ceremony in Olukayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, the First Lady said the vaccination is for girls between 9 and 14 years, which serve as a measure to protect their treasure against the malignant tumor.
Her words, “Prevention is better than cure. This vaccine is an antidote against HPV to prevent cervical cancer.
“It’s for the benefits of everyone and I enjoin our parents to allow our wards to take it.
“We want to assure our parents that this vaccine is safe and it has no harm on our kids”.
Speaking with journalists, the state’s commissioner for health, Filani Oyebanji described the vaccine as an effective antidote to fight one of the most deadly cancers widely disturbing women.
He said the state is targeting nothing less than 300,000 girls across the 16 local government areas, stressing that all girls irrespective of their class will be vaccinated.
The commissioner assured parents and guardians that the vaccine is not harmful, stressing that it is a step-up vaccination for immunization against polio, measles, among others.
“HPV Vaccine is to prevent cervical cancer. We are one of many other states who is flagging it off.
“Cervical cancer is one of the most deadly cancers. We are targeting over 300,000 girl child.
“The idea behind the vaccine is the prevention and it’s similar to the vaccine they took when they were much younger like polio vaccine, measles vaccine etc.
“I will like to encourage parents and guardians out there that the Vaccine has been properly checked by NAFDAC, certified by Federal Ministry of Health. The vaccine is helpful and doesn’t have any negative side”.
When asked on government’s plans for boychild, he said “There is a federal conversation at the national level to rethink how we move this forward for boy child but primarily today, we are focusing on the women on cervical cancer because boys don’t have such cancer”.
On his part, the Director General, Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Ayodele Iseoluwa added that the purpose of the vaccination is to prevent cervical cancer among girls population for a better and secured future.
Speaking with a vaccine recipient, Alatise Faith, an 11-yr-old student of Harding Model College, Ado-Ekiti urged other girls to partake in the vaccination, saying “It’s better to endure the pain now than to have cervical cancer”.
Another recipient, Ojoayo Favour confirmed pain in her body after receiving the vaccine but was relieved afterwards.
