The Delta State Government has inaugurated the 2024 Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine Technical Working Group, as part of efforts to tackle the menace of cervical cancer which is largely responsible for all cancers causing maternal deaths.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, inaugurated the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine Technical Working Group yesterday in Asaba, with a charge on the members to ensure that they committed themselves to achieving the mandate of the Working Group.
“The administration of the Human Papilloma Vaccine on all females between the ages of 9-14 years of age is very apt, thoughtful, and the surest public health approach,” the Commissioner disclosed.
Reading out the Terms of Reference of the Technical Working Group, the Commissioner said they were to map out all relevant HPV stakeholders, and provide coordination, management and planning of all stakeholder’s meetings; support all implementation and post introduction activities such as school and community vaccination as well as HPV routinization process.
He stated that it was within the purview of the Group to provide overall guidance for running the operations room during the introduction of the HPV vaccine such as early identification and proffering solutions to mitigate challenges during the HPVV introduction process.
Responding, the first Chairman of the Technical Working Group, Dr. Philomena Okeowo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, thanked the State Government for finding them worthy to serve Deltans and assured their readiness to ensure the Group succeeded in its mandate.
Dr. Faith Iyere, State Coordinator, Delta World Health Organization and also member of the Technical Working Group, in her address, said the membership of the Working Group was all-inclusive with all relevant stakeholders on board, which show that Delta State was prepared to address the scourge.
On behalf of the World Health Organization, she pledged the support of WHO technically and otherwise to ensure that the mandate given to the Working Group came out successful.
The Technical Working Group is made up of 38 members cutting across line ministries, religious and traditional groups, the media, among other relevant stakeholders in the state. The vaccination exercise is set to commence in May, 2024.
By Donald Ojebo
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