Edo State to Begin Malaria, HPV vaccinations

The Edo state government has announced that it will begin Malaria and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccinations. The State’s Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA),  disclosed that the vaccines will be introduced into routine immunisations for children in 2024.

Mrs Elfrida Omogun, State Immunisation Officer, EDSPHCDA, stated this during an interview in Benin on Tuesday, shortly after the agency’s PHCs Social Mobilisation Committee/ Quarterly Stakeholders’ meeting. Omogun said that Edo was in the second phase of implementing the HPV vaccination in the country.

“Edo will benefit from the second phase of the HPV vaccine that will be given to children between ages 9 years to 15 years…The HPV vaccine is to prevent our children from coming down with cervical cancer which is now rampant in society,” he said.

She sought stakeholders’ collaboration in the implementation of the different agencies’ health interventions for better outcomes. ‘We are sensitising our stakeholders so that they can inform the public about our health programmes,” she said. She added that measles revaccination is currently ongoing in some wards in eight local government councils in the state to meet up with the expected target.

On her part, Mrs Irene Uabor, Health Education Officer, EDSPHCDA, urged Edo residents to utilise Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) nearest to them for their primary healthcare needs. ‘We want Edo residents to utilise our PHCs effectively. Our PHCs services are numerous; we do immunisation, nutrition, family planning and general family health…We want our stakeholders to be abreast with PHC activities and communicate same to their different communities and associations,” she said. Uabor added that plans were ongoing to implement the Community Health Influencers Promoters and Services (CHIPS) Programme in the state.

NAN/S.S