*Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, frowns on the high prevalence of cervical cancer among women, as she commends the introduction of HPV vaccines for routine immunisation in the country

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has decried the high prevalence of cervical cancer in the West African country.

Sen. Tinubu expressed this reaction while speaking at the recent national launch of the introduction of the HPV Vaccine into the routine immunisation schedule of the National Immunisation Programe in Abuja, FCT.

Busola Kukoyi, Special Assistant on Media to the First Lady, also stated Sen. Tinubu stressed that the initiative does not end with the introduction of the vaccine into the routine immunisation schedule, but there must be focus on education and awareness about the virus.

Regular screenings, she stated, must be encouraged, and there must be improved access to healthcare with behavioural interventions as well.

Sen. Tinubu said: “For me, I will recommend that girls who are under 18 years of age and sexually active, avail themselves the opportunity of this vaccine, to avoid a future of ill-health and possibly, death.

鈥淚n conclusion, I want to emphasise that the introduction of HPV vaccine into our routine immunisation schedule is a significant step forward in our mission to protect the health and future of our nations womenfolk and it will lead to a structured and systematic way of achieving a cervical cancer free generation.鈥�

According to the First Lady, the healthcare initiative goes beyond preventing cervical cancer but also demonstrates the commitment of the administration of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to gender equity and women empowerment to take charge of their health.

Speaking earlier, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, had emphasised that the vaccine is safe, effective, and already in use in several countries of the world.

Prof. Pate stated: “No father or mother who really understands he/she can prevent a serious disease will stop his/her daughters from taking the vaccine, except they really do not understand.”

In their goodwill messages also, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 霉 health sector partners and others said the introduction of the vaccine will go a long way to enhance the health of the female folk in the country.

Sen. Tinubu later supervised the administration of the vaccine on the girls present at the event, stated Kukoyi.