The Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) has outlined strategies to increase Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake across the country.
PAN President, Prof Ekanem Ekure, said major challenge to HPV vaccine uptake is rumours and misinformation, which are leading to poor understanding of the role of the HPV vaccine.
She called for the rebuilding vaccine confidence through clear communication on the vaccine’s safety, efficacy and countering misinformation prevalent on social and traditional media through accurate information campaigns.
Ekure, who is a professor of Paediatrics at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, also noted that the engagement with stakeholders, particularly the religious and community leaders will help address vaccine hesitancy, empower parents with accurate information and optimize vaccine uptake.
She told The Guardian that lack of trust in the government has also contributed to the vaccine hesitancy that has been exhibited in various parts of the country, adding that inadequate stakeholder engagement in the background of intense activity of anti-vaccination groups has resulted in suboptimal uptake in some parts of the country.
She said: “For instance, HPV-related diseases, women from the age of 25 years must go for regular screening for cervical cancer. We must strive to treat all those who are diagnosed with HPV related disease especially cervical cancer.”
Ekure revealed an estimated 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer yearly in Nigeria, resulting in approximately 8,000 deaths. She attributed these numbers to factors like inadequate record-keeping, limited access to proper diagnosis, and poor health-seeking behaviour.
According to her, “These estimates are considered to be the tip of the iceberg because of the fragile and undeveloped level of our record keeping and statistics as well as limited diagnostic capacity and poor health seeking behaviour of our population.”
