E.S.L.F RESUMES HPV AWARENESS…AS W.H.O. GIVES STARTLING STATISTICS OF THE CANCER-CAUSING VIRUS AT FLAG-OFF OF FREE VACCINATION.

In continuation of last year’s intense awareness campaign launched by Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF) against the Human PapillomaVirus (HPV) between September and October 2023, the Foundation, has once more, resumed its awareness campaign to sensitise the public about the dangers of the cancer-causing virus, notifying all of smart preventive measures to take against the virus including the newly-launched FREE HPV VACCINATION FOR YOUNG GIRLS OF AGE 9 to 14 officially flagged-off on Monday by the Benue State Government.

Performing the flag-off ceremony at Government Girls College, Makurdi, Gov. Hyacainth Alia, represented by the State Deputy Governor, Barr. Sam Odeh urged the public to avail themselves of the opportunity to access the free vaccine in the State.

Reeling out sobering statistics on the prevalence of HPV in Nigeria, Team Lead of World Health Organisation (WHO), Benue State Field Office, Chigbo Ogechi stated that HPV, “known to cause 99% of cervical cancer”, also “causes cancer of the anus, external genital and oral cavity in both sexes”, noting that “an estimated 47.7% million women, aged 15 years and older, are at risk of developing cervical cancer in Nigeria, 14,000 women diagnosed with new cervical cancer cases and 8000 die yearly amounting to 57% fatality”.

According to Chigbo, HPV spreads skin to skin, condoms DO NOT provide full protection against it and most people do not develop signs or symptoms which only shows after cancer has reached an advance stage.The health expert assures that the HPV vaccine is safe, effective and protects against the most common type of HPV that causes cancer.

She recommended that girls receive the vaccine before becoming sexually active for maximum result.

On her part, the Executive Secretary, State Primary Health Care Development Board, Mrs. Grace Ashiver Wende thanked “the Technical Working Group for well-coordinated pre-implementation activities including mass advocacy, communication and social mobilisation” which ESLF was deeply involved in.

ESLF is currently part of the CSOS HPV Vaccine Champions for Makurdi Local Government Area made of members of a network, BENGONET and other CSOs in the State.

ESLF had, last year, commenced intense sensitisation to primary and post-primary schools across Makurdi including sponsorship of HPV sensitisation jingles and radio programme as well as sundry online posts about HPV on its website: eslffoundation.org.ng, on Facebook, Whatsapp and X (formerly Twitter @ESLFfoundation).