Kemi Olatunde

The Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA) has expressed its readiness to partner the Ondo State Alternative Medicine Board to ensure successful administration of the Human papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine against cervical cancer in the state.

The Permanent Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu stated this while on advocacy visit to the Alternative Medicine Board in Akure.

Represented by the Director Disease Control and Immunization, Dr. Victor Adefesoye, he noted that with the composition of the Board, it is critical to the success of the administration of the vaccine in the State.

According to him, ladies between age 9 to 14 years would be vaccinated across the state, saying “this is the age that the vaccine offers its potency.”

The Permanent Secretary said the Agency is targeting everyone within the age range to ensure that the society is free from the disease noting that it is only cervical cancer of all known cancers that could be prevented with administration of the vaccine.

While saying that the vaccine is free and safe, Dr Akanbiemu informed the Board that women above the age range would enjoy free cervical screening during the exercise.

In her response, the Administrative Secretary of Ondo State Alternative Medicine Board , Mrs Lucy Akerele pledged the support of the Board to propagate the message to members as well as schools in the state.