Bauchi Flags Off Vaccination against Cervical Cancer in Women

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Bauchi State government has flagged off campaign for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine to prevent cervical cancer among women of reproductive age.

The focus of vaccination are girls aged 9-14 in order to ensure that they are well protected against the virus as they grow up to maturity preparatory to childbearing period.

Speaking during the flag off ceremony at Government Comprehensive Secondary School Bakari Dukku, yesterday, Governor Bala Mohammed, expressed optimism that the HPV vaccine would reduce the burden of cancer in the state.

Mohammed, said his administration, in collaboration with development partners, was prepared for the mass vaccination of female children aged 9-14 years across the 20 local government areas in the state against the disease.

He further said the exercise would be taken to health facilities, public and private schools, markets places, social gathering, religious places and communities in order to reach out school girls.

He then called on parents, caregivers, school proprietors and managers, headmasters and principals of government, private and faith-based schools to avail their children and students of the rare opportunity to receive the very important vaccine.

In his address, State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adamu Umar Sambo, said the introduction of HPV vaccine was a rare privilege which would reduce the chances and burden of infection of cervical cancer, especially among young girls, aged 9 – 14 in Bauchi State and Nigeria as a whole.

He stressed that Bauchi State government was ever ready to support any public health intervention aimed at strengthening the health system, especially improving the lives and well-being of women and children.

He added that the administration under the leadership of Mohammed placed high premium on health sector where it has invested in infrastructure and equipment, apart from being committed to the obligation of MoU arrangement with development and donor partners in spite of the dwindling resources and multi sectoral demands in governance.

In his opening remarks, Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, enumerated some of the warning signs of cervical cancer in a woman of reproductive age.

According to him, the signs include: “Blood spots or light bleeding between or following periods, menstrual bleeding that is longer and heavier than usual.

“Other symptoms are bleeding after intercourse, douching, or a pelvic examination and the increased vaginal discharge as well as pain during sexual intercourse or bleeding after menopause.”