Federal Government to debut new anti-cancer vaccine

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has announced that the Federal Government of Nigeria will introduce a new anti-cancer vaccine, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, into the national immunization schedule in 2023 and 2024.

This initiative aims to combat the increasing incidence of cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers across the country.

Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NPHCDA, made the disclosure during the quarterly review meeting of the South-East Traditional Rulers Committee on primary healthcare delivery held in Awka on Wednesday.

He emphasized that HPV is a common infection that can lead to various health complications, including cancers, highlighting the physical and emotional impact it has on individuals and families.

Representing Dr. Shuaib at the event, Dr. Bassey Okposen Bassey, the Director of Disease Control and Immunization, stressed the importance of engaging with traditional rulers to strengthen primary healthcare facilities and improve reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health services in the South-East region.

He affirmed that traditional rulers play a crucial role in primary healthcare and encouraged them to continue championing these efforts within their communities.

Dr. Bassey highlighted recent initiatives aimed at enhancing primary healthcare, such as the launch of the Community-Based Health Research Innovative-Training and Service Programme.

This intervention focuses on optimizing human resources for health, reducing maternal and newborn mortality rates, and strengthening primary healthcare facilities by recruiting skilled birth attendants and medical officers of health, as well as deploying CRISP resident doctors.

In addition to these measures, the Federal Government, in collaboration with development partners, plans to introduce the Human Papillomavirus vaccine into the national immunization schedule in 2023 and 2024.

This vaccine will provide protection against HPV-related diseases, including cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. Dr. Bassey emphasized the need for traditional rulers to actively participate in immunization activities, raise awareness, and mobilize their communities to embrace preventive measures.

During the event, the Anambra State deputy governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, who represented Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to developing the healthcare system. He stated that the government has adopted a bottom-up approach to ensure the functionality of the healthcare system in the state.

Dr. Walter Mulambo, the Country Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), noted that despite improvements in immunization coverage, there are still children across Nigeria who have missed routine vaccinations and remain unimmunized.

He highlighted the progress made in containing variant strains of the poliovirus, with a 90% reduction in reported variants compared to the previous year. Dr. Mulambo emphasized the importance of sustaining this progress to maintain a polio-free South-East zone and Nigeria as a whole.

Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, the Chairman of the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, commended the initiative and pledged the support of traditional rulers as critical stakeholders in driving primary healthcare within their respective communities.

The event was attended by traditional rulers from Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi states, as well as key stakeholders in the health sector.

The introduction of the HPV vaccine and the continued collaboration with traditional rulers and healthcare providers mark significant steps in strengthening healthcare delivery and combating preventable diseases across Nigeria.