Health

One Million Girls for HPV Vaccination in Oyo

By Web News 288

By Fasilat Lawal

About one million girls between the ages of nine and fourteen will be vaccinated against the Human Papiloma Virus, HPV next week Monday Children’s Day in Oyo State. 

The Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji, made this known while speaking with Radio Nigeria in Ibadan. 

Dr Olatunji explained that one dose of HPV Vaccine protects against Cervical Cancer noted that sexually active school age girls needed to verify their HPV Status before taking the Vaccine. 

He pointed out that the vaccine is free for every eligible young girls called on parents and guardians to give their consent to enable them benefit from the exercise. 

Dr Olatunji said the exercise will last for six days in schools, house to house and community    . 

He emphasized that  the HPV Vaccine will be incorporated into the routine immunization schedule at the primary healthcare centres across the state to make it available to girls who have not reach the age of nine. 

The Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board added that out-of-school girls between age 9 to 14 will also be vaccinated, enjoined people to support the programme.

Oyo State is among the second phase to roll out HPV Vaccine.

Also, United Nation Children Emergency Fund, UNICEF, is also organising an HPV vaccination programmes across some states in the Southwest among which is Oyo State.

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Health

Human Papilloma Virus: Misconceptions, Facts

By Web News 234

By Moses Morenikeji

Does Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine lead to depopulation? Will it encourage promiscuity among girls?

Does it have adverse effects?

These are among questions addressed at a two day Media Dialogue on “Combating the Most Preventable Form of Deadly Cancer Affecting Women and Girls (HPV) through Vaccination” held in Lagos recently.

Addressing these issues, the Social and Behavioural Change (SBC) Specialist, UNICEF, Lagos Field Office, Mrs. Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, described all these as mere rumours and misconceptions which she said are unfounded.

She attributed low uptake of the HPV vaccine to misinformation, saying this has militated against the objective of the. HPV vaccination campaign.

The SBC Specialist therefore called on the media to champion the awareness to demystify misconceptions about the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination in order to increase the uptake of the vaccine. 

Akinola-Akinwole noted that the media could stop the spread of rumours on the vaccine by providing correct and adequate messages and facts consistently.

According to her, these rumours were only meant to rob women the benefits of taking the vaccine which was to tackle cervical cancer in women.

“If these misconceptions are not addressed, it can lead to total rejection of the vaccine and consequently increase the outbreak of vaccine -preventable diseases,” Akinola-Akinwole submitted.

In a presentation, a Health Specialist, UNICEF, Lagos Field Office, Dr. Ijeoma Agbo, maintained that HPV was the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract and responsible for more than 95% cases of cervical cancer.

The Health Specialist, who hinted that  cervical cancer was the second most common cancer in Nigeria after the breast cancer, said the objective of the HPV vaccination campaign was to ensure that 80% of girls between 9-14 years were vaccinated by December 2024.

“Nigeria has put in efforts to reduce morbidity due to HPV so that on the long run, we can reduce high incidence and prevalence of cervical cancer,” the Health Specialist stated.

She listed Lagos, Ogun and Osun States as some of the South West states that took part of the exercise when the first phase of the vaccine was launched last year.

Dr Agbo stated that the second phase of the vaccination programme would be launched on Monday, May 27, 2024 in 21 states including Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti states.

She gave the public assurance of safety of the vaccine, adding that it is free for beneficiaries who are girls of ages 9 – 14 years.

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Health

Media vital to vaccination awareness – WHO Oyo Coordinator

By Web News 303

By Fasilat Lawal 

The media has crucial role to play in ensuring that the public is well informed about the importance of vaccinating children. 

Oyo State Coordinator of World Health Organization, WHO, Dr Phillip Zorto stated this at the commemoration of this year’s African Vaccination Week held at Oranyan Primary Health Care Board Ibadan. 

Dr Zorto affirmed that adequate Sensitization on indispensability of vaccination is key to protecting children from any form of disease from childhood to Adulthood. 

Dr Zoro Emphasized that the African Vaccination Week is   celebrated on the continent  to create more awareness and educate people about the importance of vaccination as well as to  correct myths and misconception about it. 

In an address, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji who was represented by Director of Logistics, Mr Kehinde Olabode noted that introduction of vaccination to Africa Countries had drastically reduced cases of death among new born children before they attain the age of one, and called on parents to always present their children for vaccination to prevent childhood diseases, and to ensure they grow properly. 

He advised parents and guardians to properly keep their children Vaccination cards as they may need them in the future. 

Speaking on recent Measles Out break in the state, Dr Olatunji said the Agency had stepped up Surveillance team  to ensure Health Workers Visit every nooks and crannies of the state to attend to unvaccinated Children and  for other medical attention.

Earlier in an address of Welcome, Medical Officer Of Health, Ibadan South East  Local government, Dr Modupe Akinyemi who was represented by Mrs Tolulope Olusola_Jimoh appreciated Health Patners for their support in ensuring quality health care drive in the state.

In a good will message, a Deputy Director, National primary Healthcare Development Agency  Oyo State Office, Mr Paul Alasan and Representative of UNICEF in Oyo State, Mr Samuel Olatunji enjoined Mothers to properly position their children when  breastfeeding and ensure they practice six months exclusive breastfeeding to boost their immunity. 

High points of the event were songs session, practical way to properly breastfeed and administering of Vaccines to Children.

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Health

Bring your Children for Polio Vaccination, Ondo Govt Urges Residents

By Web News 384

By Bukola Badi

The Ondo State government says it will continue to invest in primary healthcare to ensure that the state retains its polio free status in the country.

 The Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka stated this in Akure while launching the September 2023 round of the National Immunisation Plus days scheduled to take place between Saturday, 30th September and Thursday, 5th October, 2023.

Dr Ajaka represented by the Permanent Secretary, Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Francis Akanbiemu noted that Ondo State recorded huge success in previous immunisation plus days and had made necessary arrangements to make sure this edition was not different.

The commissioner urged mothers and caregivers to present their children from age zero to 5yrs for the oral polio vaccine and Vitamin A supplement, which would be taken to churches, mosques, schools, houses and other public places by health workers in all the eighteen local government areas of the state.

The wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyawu-Akeredolu called on local government chairmen, religious leaders, traditional rulers and health workers to intensify mobilisation activities for this round of national immunisation plus days in Ondo State.

Representative of the World Health Organisation in Ondo State, Dr Dele Davies stressed the importance of immunisation to child development and advised mothers to make their babies available for the exercise.

Two mothers, Mrs Oladunni Ajayi and Mrs Bosede Ayomide whose babies were admitted for oral polio vaccine and vitamin A supplement thanked government for making child and maternal health a priority in Ondo State.

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Health

Diphtheria: Medical Experts Call for Maximum Attention to Effective Vaccination

By Web News 900

Francisca Irekpita

Medical experts want Nigerians to pay more attention to routine immunization coverage and effective vaccinations in the bid to combat the spread of diphtheria in the country. 

The experts, while speaking with Radio Nigeria on the reported upsurge in cases of diphtheria in parts of the country also emphasized the need for sustainable mechanisms to strengthen the delivery of primary health care services to the people. 

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, had alerted Nigerians on the outbreak of the vaccine-preventable bacteria infection, which affects the nose, throat and skin with records that it had killed at least 38 persons in the country. 

Reacting to the development, the experts in Infection Prevention and Control, Community and Public Health, as well as Epidemiology, were united in their submissions that the disease outbreak in different parts was an indication that more children needed to be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

On his part, the infection prevention and control expert and Secretary-General, of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Ogun State, Dr Festus Adetanwa described diphtheria as a deadly but curable bacterial infection commonly found among children and the elderly with low immune systems. 

He highlighted fever, sore throat, nasal discharge, cough, difficulty in breathing and swollen glands of the neck as some of the symptoms associated with diphtheria, noting that, the disease could spread easily from person to person through droplets from cough and sneeze.

Dr Adetanwa advised the people to maintain a maximum level of hygiene as a precaution to prevent a resurgence of the disease in other locations. 

Also, the Community and Public Health expert, Dr Toluwalase Adegboye blamed the resurgence of diphtheria on the inadequate coverage of routine immunization and non-adherence to standard health safety precautions among Nigerians.

Dr Adegboye while appealing to relevant agencies to educate the people on the need to get vaccinated, also emphasized that reviewing the available primary Health care system for better performance would help to check outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

In a reaction, an Epidemiologist at the department of Public Health, Ogun State Ministry of Health, Dr Yusuf Akeem pointed out that the state government had commenced the needed public sensitization, especially among the rural dwellers about the symptoms and mode of transmission of diphtheria.

Dr Akeem explained that the state surveillance system had also been strengthened through the provision of adequate resources and training of healthcare workers, while effective communication channels had been established between health authorities and the public to further educate the people. 

Others who contributed to the issue urged the government to deploy more medical personnel to identify areas with the prevalence of diphtheria and make conscious efforts to treat the affected persons and vaccinate those classified as high-risk groups.

In Kano state, one of the worst-hit states in the country’s north, Dr Aminu Tsanyawa the health commissioner for the state had recorded more than 70 suspected cases along with 25 deaths related to the bacterial infection.

The total number of confirmed cases and deaths is not yet known.

Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention revealed it initiated an emergency response to the outbreak and is monitoring the situation in four of the nation’s 36 states.

Authorities were first alerted about an outbreak among children in Kano state in late December, according to the state’s chief epidemiologist.

Diphtheria causes breathing difficulties, heart failure and paralysis. The people most at risk are unvaccinated or live in areas with poor sanitation.

Nigeria has not had a diphtheria outbreak of this magnitude in recent years. The nation’s capacity to diagnose the disease and treat patients is limited in many remote areas.

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Health

Covid-19 Vaccine : Deadline For Government Workers Approaches

By Web News 689

Currently, there is a Federal Government memo indicating that  workers yet to take the Covid-19 jab would be denied access to work places.

This directive is to take effect from the first of December 2021.

As the deadline approaches, correspondent, Olufisoye Adenitan seeks the views of stakeholders about this development.

Since the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine ,efforts have been intensified by government to ensure  availability and accessibility of the vaccines by Nigerians  in government hospitals and other designated places.

Considering the population of over two hundred million Nigerians ,it  is pertinent to know that huge resources is needed to manage and control the spread of the virus through the vaccine and other safety measures.

It is on this basis that the Federal Government and some states launched the mass vaccination exercise to speed up the process of vaccination 

To further fast track the process, Federal   Government also raised a memo about a month ago on the need for all civil servants to get vaccinated before DEC 1 while erring workers would be prevented from accessing their offices.

Finding shows that  government had passed memo to it parastatals and MDAs on the Dec 1st deadline ,but investigations reveal that, the December 1st deadline memo had already been passed down to the establishments while feed back from the National orientation agency also show that workers attention had  been sufficiently drawn to the directive.

Speaking on this , A public affairs analyst, Mr Ige Oluwaseyi was of the opinion that government should not enforce this   because people had  the  right to life and their decisions.

He was also of the opinion that government should rather find solution to pertinent issues affecting the health system.

Also federal civil servants,Mrs Florence Anichukwu and Cecilia Oshin explained that they took the vaccine and only had some little reactions afterward .

Also speaking ,Mrs Adebola Deinde expressed dismay that government was enforcing vaccines for Covid-19 while other life threatening diseases were killing  people everyday

A public Health expert ,Dr Toyin Olajide said that Covid-19 spread could be  controlled and  tamed if Nigerians get the vaccine since it boost  immune system to fight the virus.

Many other respondents believed that, there should be community engagement  and interaction with traditional and religious leaders who had influence in encouraging societal development and integration before enforcing vaccination for the people.

Olufisoye Adenitan

Health

COVID-19 Vaccination: Report Any Wrong Practices – Ogun Health Commissioner

By Web News 837

Ogun state government has advised residents of the state to report anyone demanding money from them before they can be vaccinated for appropriate sanctions.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker gave the advice during a sensitisation visit to Oba Titi Dada International Market, Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.

Dr Coker who reminded the people that COVID-19 Vaccine is free in all public and private health facilities across Ogun State, noted that the government had taken proactive measures, towards ensuring that no eligible resident was left out in the campaign.

Describing the traders as key stakeholders in the mass covid 19 vaccination campaign, the Health Commissioner, urged them to encourage their customers and other loved ones to take the vaccine as part of measure to ensure their wellbeing.

She pointed out that the sixty days ultimatum announced by the governor during the flag off of the exercise would be enforced.

responding, the Iyaloja-General, Ado Odo-Ota, Mrs.Adebisi Oyetoro commended the State government for taking the steps to ensure that every eligible resident benefited, promising to mobilise traders and customers on the need to get vaccinated.


Olusegun Folarin

Health

Ogun Government Takes COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign To Tertiary Institutions

By Web News 857

Ogun State government has taken the Mass Vaccination campaign to tertiary institutions in the state in a bid to achieve the forty percent target before the end of the year.

 Flaging off the covid 19 vaccination at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, Ojere, Abeokuta Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago iwoye, the commissioner for health, Dr Tomi Coker described the students as important stakeholders in the success of the campaign.

Dr Coker who explained that the mass vaccination campaign became necessary to prevent the fourth wave of the pandemic, said the emergence of the virus had affected the general wellbeing of the world population.

Also, the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, noted that the present administration was concerned about the wellbeing of students, especially as the pandemic had made a huge impact on their education.

Dr Ogunsola noted that the vaccine would be incorporated into the existing health system in tertiary institutions across the State to avoid uninterrupted teaching and learning during the exercise.

In a remark, representative of the World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr. Gloria Archibong maintained that the vaccination was one of the proven measures of individual protection from the virus and interrupting its spread.

In their separate remarks, the Presidents, Students Union Government of the institutions promised to collaborate with the present administration in its fight to curb the spread of the virus.

Olusegun Folarin