Cervical Cancer: Agency intensifies efforts on advocacy in Adamawa

The Adamawa Primary Healthcare Development Agency says it has intensified efforts on advocacy and sensitisation ahead of the official introduction of Human Papilloma Virus vaccine into the routine immunisation against cervical cancer among women.

READ ALSO: Cervical cancer: Expert solicits for active engagement of girls, women

Mrs Lydia Adamu, the Health Educator in the agency, disclosed this during an interactive session with newsmen in Yola. She said that the agency had done a lot ahead of time to ensure the success of the exercise across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state. She also added that cervical cancer is the second commonest cancer among women and common cause of death, if not detected early. According to Adamu, the vaccine will be free of charge and available across all the designated public facilities.

She said that health workers were allocated to work in the facilities, communities, schools and out of school, to reach out to the target age group. Adamu further said that the vaccinations would be given before exposure to the virus to girls aged nine to 14 for maximum protection.

She however, called on all the stakeholders to pass on the message and avail their children to access the vaccine for maximum protection. Adamu further said that the advocacy team had visited many places, including the Ministry of Education, Women Affairs, State Universal Basic Education, NURTW and the women’s wing of market associations.

Wumi/NAN