The Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency has inaugurated a Technical Working Committee to work out modalities of vaccinating girls aged between 9-14 against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Inaugurating the committee, the agency’s executive chairman, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed stated that HPV is the most common sexually-transmitted infection diseases that is connected to cervical cancer.
He said the committee is expected to develop activities designed to effectively implement the vaccination campaign in the state and explained that the committee comprises medical experts, religion and traditional leaders, civil society organisation and development partners as members.
Dr Mohammed said 16 states, including Bauchi were selected nationwide for the first phase of the vaccination, adding that the overall purpose of the technical committee will focus on coordination, introduction, and decision-making for smooth introduction of the vaccine.
He said the committee will be responsible for mapping all relevant HPV stakeholders, monitor and track readiness of board and track funding for the rollout of the vaccine.
In his presentation, Dr Jibreel Mohammed, Director, Planning Research and Statistics at the agency said the vaccine was introduced to protect women from cervical cancer and said the HPV vaccine would be integrated into routine immunisation from 2024.
Mohammed expressed concern about the prevalence of cancer among women and stressed that collective efforts must be made to reduce the burden by targeting young girls for the vaccine.