By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
Authorities in Gombe State have set Monday the 27th of May, 2024, for vaccination of female children between nine (09) and fourteen (14) years against cervical cancer also known as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
It is in this regard that Godiya Golden Men and Women Cooperative Society has undertaken a sensitisation campaign rally for some communities in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The well organised rally witnessed a large turnout of people, both young and old, as well as officials from the Primary Health Care Department of the LGA as they visited health facilities, markets, community squares, schools among many others.
Mrs Stella Ohanusi Chiemeka, the Programme Officer of Godiya Golden Men and Women told our reporter shortly after the rally at the two sections of Kwadon international market that the essence of the rally was to reach as much people as possible with the message of the existence of HPV and the forth coming vaccination.
She said, “we’ve just done the rally at the Kwadon cattle market where over 5,000 people gather and the grains section where people come from different parts of Nigeria and Africa to let them know that vaccination will commence on Monday”.
According to Mrs. Stella, her Organization is being sponsored by The Johns Hopkins International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC) through it’s in-country management consultants, Direct Consulting and Logistics (DCL) Nigeria.
During the campaign, Mrs Stella had cautioned the people against rejection of the vaccines saying, “there should be no hesitancy, it is for the good of the children as evidence has already shown that people are dying of cervical cancer and the vaccination is free”.
Mrs. Hadiza Usman Shinga, the coordinator
Primary Health Care Department, Yamaltu-Deba LGA, had informed our Correspondent that vaccines and all materials needed for the exercise were ready adding that all things being equal, the vaccination will commence on Monday if there is no interruption.
She commended Godiya Golden Men and Women for taking the awareness campaign to three wards in the LGA which include, Kwadon/Liji/Kurba, Deba and Zambuk/Kwali wards.
She said the LGA is ready for the exercise and already supporting with training and other activities adding that the vaccines are already in the State.
She stated also that the Local Government Chairman had already mobilized his counsellors to further mobilize their people in their various wards for the HPV vaccination.
