Yetunde Oke
The wife of Oyo State Governor, Tamunominini Makinde, has advocated vaccination for girls between the ages of 9 to 14 against Human Papilloma Virus, HPV, a common sexually transmitted infection, STI.
Mrs Makinde made this known at the official launch of ‘Oya Campaign” against cervical cancer through HPV Vaccination, at St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School, Yanbunle, Bashorun, Ibadan.
According to Mrs Makinde, the ‘Oya Campaign” a collaboration between a non-governmental organisation, Girl Effect and Oyo State Ministry of Health, is to accelerate the importance of HPV vaccine and to promote health nutritional practices among adolescent girls.
Mrs Makinde, who was made the ambassador for the campaign, called on the male gender to join hands in protecting girls against HPV.
On her part, the Country Director of Girl Effect, Mrs Boladale Akin-Kolapo, said ‘Oya Campaign’ supported by Gavi the Vaccine Alliance is to inform that cervical cancer is preventable.
Earlier, Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, said the “Oya Campaign” is also embedded with other benefits like education, health promotion and psychological support for adolescent girls in the state.
Highlight of the event were lecture on cervical cancer and good nutrition, and presentation of Award of Oyo HPV Vanguard to Mrs Tamunominini Makinde by Girl Effect.
Present at the event included Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, Commissioner for Education, Olusegun Olayiwola, members of Oyo State Assembly and partners such as WHO and UNICEF.
