District Governor, Rotary International, District 9110, Nigeria, Dr. Jide Akeredolu has made history with the launch of the much awaited Cervical Cancer Prevention Project.
102 girls from Junior Secondary School One (JSS1) to Junior Secondary School Two (JSS3) were vaccinated in the pilot phase of the project which was kicked-off on Thursday, November 5, 2019 in Estate Junior Grammar School, Ilupeju in Lagos state.
"When we did our survey, we discovered that about 4 million girls would need the vaccination but we have decided to take the first step. I thank you for beginning this journey with us and I hope that in many years’ time, we will look back and say oh, I was there when this journey started", DG Akeredolu
The project is an initiative of the District Governor, aimed at vaccinating 10, 000 girls against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer. Each dose of the vaccine costs N11, 000 and each girl is required to take two doses.
The project which has never been done in the history of Nigeria and Africa as a whole, except for Rwanda which initiated the project in 2011, is being sponsored by the district, is supported by Rotary clubs in the district with Rotary Club of Lagos Palm Grove Estate leading with paid sponsorship of 100 girls, as well as individual Rotarians.
To also ensure the success of the project, the Rotary district partnered with Pretty Health Care Limited and Vaccipharm Limited in the area of vaccination and vaccine supply respectively.
Present at the launching were district leaders, members of the project committee led by the Chairperson, Adetoun Agbe Davies of Rotary Club of Ikoyi, club presidents, and some other Rotarians in the district.
Also present were Mrs. Opeyemi Ajayi, the School Principal; Mrs. Tayo Olufemi of the Family Health and Nutrition Directorate who represented the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health; Dr. Odunayo Talabi, the Medical Director- Pretty Health Care; Mr. Olalekan who represented the Tutor General (District vi); Mrs Fadeke Adeyemi from Vaccipharm; members of the school's Parents Forum, and guests.
DG Akeredolu, while delivering his speech said, “We are here to start a very long journey which is cervical cancer prevention. Statistics from World Health Organization (WHO) tells us that about 26 women die of cervical cancer every day in Nigeria which amounts to one woman dying of cervical cancer every 55 minutes’, he said.
.JPG)
Speaking further, he said, “The interesting thing is that it can be prevented through vaccination. We know the virus causing cervical cancer, it is called the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) so if we vaccinate young girls against the virus, cervical cancer can be prevented. It has never been done anywhere in Africa except in Rwanda. What we know here is cervical cancer screening to discover if the virus has been contracted or not.
“Each vaccination costs N11, 000 and each girls require two doses which is equal to N22, 000, maybe that is why the project has not been taken up in Nigeria before now but we at Rotary International, District 9110 to be precise, have decided to take it up. The leading club that has decided to support us in this journey is Rotary Club of Lagos Palm Grove Estate.
“They have decided to sponsor 100 girls. Other clubs have also keyed into the project. When we did our survey, we discovered that about 4 million girls would need the vaccination but we have decided to take the first step. I thank you for beginning this journey with us and I hope that in many years’ time, we will look back and say oh, I was there when this journey started”, the DG concluded.
The School Principal thanked the club for the laudable project. She especially thanked the Chairman of the Cervical Cancer Prevention Committee and another member of the committee, Chandra, the President Elect of Rotary Club of Lagos Palm Grove Estate for their patience.
“Since early October, they have been coming here and in many cases, I won’t attend to them. I would tell them to go to the education district and they would say ‘yes, we will go’. I thank them for their patience and perseverance towards ensuring the success of this project”, said Mrs. Ajayi.
Mrs. Olufemi, in her remark, stated that she has been hearing of Rotary club since she was little. “For the organization to be taking this cause now, it’s a very laudable intervention. The Lagos state government is also about to roll out cervical cancer screening for age 30 and above and by January, we will be flagging off the program”, she said.
“I want the Rotary district to know that you are not alone in this cause. I want us to be able to look back and be happy that we have been able to kick out cervical cancer in Nigeria just like we kicked out polio”, she added.
The Rotary district also partnered with Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) who were also present at the launch in case of any emergency.