By Godwin Otang
The chances of a cervical cancer free adulthood for teenage girls in Cross River State may have just improved following the conclusion of a vaccination round against the Human Papilloma Virus, HPV, which is a leading cause of the terminal illness.
HPV infection is a viral infection that commonly causes skin or mucous membrane growth known as warts. There are more than a hundred varieties of HPV. Some types of HPV infection causes warts, while some are capable of causing various kinds of cancer, according to research. The virus can be contracted either sexually or skin-to-skin contact.
Nigeria loses nearly 8,000 women annually to HPV, research says, while globally, it is an estimated 342,000 deaths and 604,000 new cases registered annually.
However, a vaccine advocate, Dr. Mary Ojong – Ejoh, an IVAC – DCL trained HPV vaccine advocate with Samarwin Initiative says the ongoing vaccination round which targets teenagers between the ages of nine and 14 is a game changer.
Dr. Ojong-Ejoh had last week embarked on a sensitization exercise at the University of Calabar where she spoke with the Varsity’s Senate at its 241st meeting, teaching about the need to do away with vaccine hesitancy.
She said her mission was to “sensitize influential gatekeepers because you know these are groups of people who hold different misconceptions and myths that can discourage others from having the vaccine. Do away with myths and misconceptions and embrace the introduction of the vaccine. That’s the only way we can combat and do away with vaccine hesitancy.”
CrossRiverWatch recorded a part of that sensitization, including the feedback session. Watch it on CrossRiverWatch TV below.
She told CrossRiverWatch that the field activity was successful as the message had trickled down, expressing optimism that the sensitization of the academic community will have a larger impact.
For Dr. Edima Olory Michael, a staff of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, the precedence of the virus in Cross River State calls for worry. Dr. Edima averred that government intervention has now made the vaccine available, hence the need for people to turn up and receive it.
She said: “In Cross River, the figures are very large. This vaccine had been in place but was expensive until the government has seen the need to key into the vaccine intervention. The vaccine is safe and effective. All misconceptions against the vaccine are false. The free vaccine is for girls aged 9–14 years of age.”