Stakeholders in the health sector in Bauchi and Jigawa have expressed joy over the high turnout in the ongoing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination exercise in the states.

The stakeholders including health experts, activists and government officials, spoke while reacting to the HPV vaccination exercise in Bauchi, Dutse and Gombe.

They said the feat would enhance awareness on the symptoms, preventive tips and case management of the diseases in the country.

According to Planned Parenthood Organisation, HPV is the most common Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), it is usually harmless and goes away by itself, but some types can lead to cancer or genital warts.

The disease infects genital area including vulva; vagina, cervix, rectum, anus, penis, scrotum, mouth and throat.

Other types of HPV cause common diseases like hand and plantar warts on the feet – but these aren’t sexually transmitted.

Some of the disease could be prevented by vaccine, while it could be chronic and requires medical diagnosis to cure.

In Nigeria, more than 1.5 million cases of HPV are being recorded annually.

To stem the dreaded disease, the Federal Government initiated a comprehensive vaccination exercise targeting millions of girls age between nine and 14.

The exercise is billed to hold simultaneously between October and November, across 16 selected states in the country.

Mr Malami Danjuma, the Health Education Officer in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, said the state witnessed impressive turnout in the ongoing HPV vaccination exercise, especially at the grassroots.

He said that about 31,350 out of the 48,000 targeted girls had been inoculated against the virus to protect them against Cervical cancer when they reach reproductive age.

“We are even running out of vaccines because of the high turnout,” he said.

Danjuma attributed the feat to effective sensitisation activities by the Volunteer Community Mobilisers (VCM), groups and others engaged in the pre-rollout activities.

Also, Dr. Emmmanuel Emedo, UNICEF’s Health Specialist, Bauchi Field Office, said the organisation deployed monitoring teams to facilitate smooth conduct of the exercise.

He said the organisation in collaboration with the state government, World Health Organisation (WHO), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other partners were monitoring the exercise across the 20 LGAs of the state.

“The reports we are getting is that there is impressive turnout across the entire state and this has to do with the level of preparedness.

“More importantly, the parents and caregivers, the schools where we find the girls within the age group.

“We also engaged the youths to pass the information, educate their peers and mobilise them for the campaign,” he said.

Mrs Mary Paul, Assistant Headmaster, Al-Ihsan Mallawa Primary School Academy, Toro, said that HPV vaccine was administered to about 98 per cent of the girls in the school.

While commending the gesture, Paul called for expansion of the programme to private schools to mobilise participation in the exercise.