By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

No fewer than 266,000 girls, aged between 9 and 14, have been vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Ekiti State, the wife of the state governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, has disclosed.

Dr Oyebanji made the disclosure during the official launch of the OYA Campaign on HPV Vaccination and Adolescent Nutrition, held at Lady Jibowu Hall in Ado-Ekiti.

She described the HPV vaccine as a highly effective tool in the fight against cervical cancer, a deadly disease affecting women, and stressed the need for awareness and action in protecting young girls.

“The OYA campaign is a call to action,” she said. “It aims to raise awareness about HPV vaccination and promote healthy nutrition practices for adolescent girls.”

Dr Oyebanji urged parents, guardians, teachers and community leaders to support the campaign by spreading awareness about the life-saving potential of the HPV vaccine and the importance of proper nutrition.

“Let us build a future where no girl in Ekiti dies from a preventable disease, where no girl is limited by poor health, and where every girl has the opportunity to live, learn and lead,” she added.

Also speaking at the event, the Country Director of Girl Effect Nigeria, Mrs Boladale Akin-Kolapo, said the campaign was targeted at adolescent girls aged 9 to 14, providing them with vital health education, including information on nutrition and the benefits of HPV vaccination.

She noted that the initiative was being implemented in collaboration with the Ekiti State Ministry of Health and the Primary Health Care Development Agency, with the aim of empowering and improving the well-being of girls in the state.

Akin-Kolapo further called on community and religious leaders to serve as champions of truth and change by debunking myths and encouraging the uptake of the HPV vaccine and healthy nutritional habits.

The event featured goodwill messages from the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Filani Oyebanji; Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Peju Babafemi; Ekiti State Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; as well as representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF.

A major highlight of the occasion was the conferment of the title, “Mother of the State: HPV Vaccination Vanguard Award,” on the governor’s wife, in recognition of her commitment to adolescent health.