Parents urged to vaccinate girls against HPV

The Acting Director, Primary Health Care Board in the FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr Nicholas Okoli, has charged FCT residents to vaccinate their 9-year-old girls against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

Okoli gave the charge during the expanded technical working group meeting with the FCT Primary Health Care Board.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer among women.

Okoli expressed worries that despite the massive enlightenment and sensitization carried out by the government, some residents still refuse vaccination for their children against this deadly disease.

He reminded parents that it was against the Child Right Act to deny or refuse any child the right to be vaccinated against diseases.

He pointed out that the elites pay huge sums of money at private health facilities to get the vaccine for their children, but that the government was giving the vaccine for free at government health facilities.

The director however said that the FCT Administration would not relent in its efforts to sensitize residents on the need to access the vaccine.

At the meeting, stakeholders drawn from different sectors expressed worries that FCT could only score 2.14% of the national target of 78% so far in 2026 for vaccination of girls aged 9 years against the virus.

The data, which was shared by John Snow Incorporated (JSI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), and the technical working group team lead and published by the District Health Information System (DHIS2) shows that FCT residents are yet to come to terms with the danger posed by cervical cancer and the need to vaccinate the girl child against the disease.

To address this issue, the participants echoed the need for more sensitisation and enlightenment in the FCT. They also frowned at the attitude of owners of private schools’ owners who lock their gates against vaccination teams.

The Public Relations officer of National Association of Proprietors Private Schools (NAPPS) FCT chapter, Joseph Agbana exonerated his association from any blame.

He said that with proper sensitisation and awareness creation, schools would not have problems getting the consent of parents to allow their children to be vaccinated.

Nigeria introduced the HPV vaccine in two phases. The first phase was in October 2023 while the second phase was in May 2024.

However, the vaccination was introduced into the routine immunisation schedule in January 2025.

Parents and caregivers are therefore advised to go to any government health facility to get girls of 9 years of age vaccinated against HPV.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is primarily transmitted through sexual contact. Since girls aged nine years are generally not yet exposed to sexual activity, the government has adopted a preventive approach by vaccinating them early to protect them against HPV infection and its associated health risks.

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