The Executive Secretary (ES), Benue State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB), Mrs Grace Ashiver Wende, on Thursday, revealed that, the ongoing Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination exercise for girls in Benue State, is being bankrolled by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF.
Mrs. Wende who disclosed this to newsmen in her office in Makurdi on Thursday, said that, the Board was fully committed to providing the necessary guidance, and technical expertise to facilitate the successful rollout of the vaccine in the State.
She said over the years, HPV has been a leading cause of cervical cancer among women, particularly in Africa where access to HPVV is seldom available.
HPV Vaccine is a free, safe, and effective remedy to build immunity against the human papilloma virus HPV.
She explained that prior to the exercise, UNICEF made available over N36 Million to the State to facilitate the microplan development, social mobilization activities, engagement of HPVVI consultant, vaccine logistics, waste management and logistics support for maintenance and delivery of the vaccines to 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state for the vaccination of girls aged, 9-14 years against the virus.
The ES however acknowledged the efforts of UNICEF in ensuring that the HPV virus was reduced to the barest minimum and eventually eradicated from the State, in no distant future.
According to her, the World Health Organization (WHO) did not give financial support for the State to undertake the exercise but only provided technical support in terms of information data.
Mrs. Wende maintained that, the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with UNICEF procured the HPV vaccines , which is a single dose vial to be administered to eligible 9-14 years adolescent girls in the State, said that the exercise is going on across the 23 Local Government Areas in the State smoothly.
While acknowledging Mvumble Yusuf, Officer in charge of Vaccine Security and Logistics (VSL) in Benue State and Health Specialist, Enugu Field Office, Dr. Ifeyinwa Anyanyo for their unwavering commitment towards health care delivery in Benue State, she said a total of 321, 413 doses of HPV have been distributed to the 23 LGAs of the state
She said already the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, through his Deputy, Barr Sam Ode had flagged off the ceremony last Monday which had commenced in earnest.
