The Mega School Sensitization Programme held at Queen of Apostole, Oluyoro, Ibadan organized by Centre for Disaster Risk and Crisis Reduction (CDRCR), in partnership with International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC), Direct Consulting and Logistics (DCL), National Primary Health Care Development (NPHCDA), Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA) with funding from Johns Hopkins, was a huge success as it witnessed a large turnout of students, parents, caregivers and other stakeholders in the community. In his welcome address, Mr. Kolawole Amusat, the Executive Director, Centre for Disaster Risk and Crisis Reduction, appreciated participating schools and parents for their believe in the sensitization programme put up by International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC) and other stakeholders to ensure communities fully participated in the HPV vaccination when rolled out so as to protect their children and wards against cervical cancer. He expressed that the only good thing any girl-child within the ages 9 to 14 can do to herself is to get the vaccine, as it is the only protection they can get against cervical cancer in the future. He therefore concluded that the HPV vaccine has been introduced earlier in some States around October, 2023 and it is considered safe and effective; it will also be administered free for all eligible girls during the phase 2 starting from May 27, 2024.
In her own remarks, Mrs Aremu, the Principal of Queen of Apostles, Oluyoro extended her appreciation to the Governments of Nigeria and other partners in the HPVVI project, specifically IVAC/DCL for making sensitization of students a priority. She noted that the facts on HPV vaccine as a form of protection against cervical cancer that will be presented to students during the sensitization will trigger their consciousness about the cancer, and the importance of being vaccinated. The principal remarked that ‘this sensitization will clear air on various misconceptions about the HPV Vaccine, while students and parents here present will know the truth and spread it among other members of their community that the vaccine is safe and effective’. Alhaji Amusa Odelade who led other community leaders to the event cannot hide his feelings as he promised that the various wards and communities in Ibadan North East Local Government will work with relevant government bodies and partners to record huge success in the phase 2 introduction of the HPV vaccine. Odelade expressed that ‘we community leaders are working round the clock to support the HPV vaccination in our Local Government. We want Ibadan North East to record 100percent vaccination of our girls so that in the future there will be zero case of cervical cancer.
Other highlights of the events are presentations from Medical Women Association of Nigeria represented by Dr. Olalude; Child Protection Network, Oyo State Chapter represented by Mrs Agnes Tola-Winjobi (a retired Nursing Officer); Mrs Salawu who is the health educator, Ibadan North East Local Government. And the closing remark was presented by the Local Inspector of Education, Ibadan North East who was ably represented by her Assistant. Inauguration of Students from various participating schools as “Students HPV Vaccine Champions and Ambassadors took place while students from Queen of Apostle Oluyoro and Community Grammar School, Iwo-Road also entertained the audience with short but enriching drama on cervical cancer and HPV vaccine.