The Lagos State Government has initiated an anti-cancer vaccine, Human PapillomaVirus vaccine into the state’s routine immunisation schedule to tackle the increasing rate of cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ibrahim  Mustafa, revealed that the state government in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and development partners will be commencing the HPV campaign for all girls aged nine to 14 years as one of the phase 1 state routine immunisation in Nigeria.

Mustafa who disclosed this in a statement, said HPV vaccination at an early age is highly important as it provides the best protection against cervical cancer.

He said Nigeria’s HPV vaccine introduction for girls of the targeted age will potentially prevent 71,000 deaths annually if the target age group is reached.

HPV is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract, mainly transmitted through sexual contact, and most people become infected with HPV shortly after the onset of sexual activity. It also prevent infection by certain types of Human Papillomavirus.

Available data show that no fewer than 14,089 new cervical cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Nigeria, while the World Health Organisation estimates ranked it as the second most common cancer after breast cancer among the country’s female population aged 15 to 44.

The permanent secretary said: “19 per cent of women initiate sexual intercourse by age 15 increasing the risk of HPV infection ( NDHS, report 2018).HPV vaccination at an early age is highly important as it provides the best protection.