A lead paper presenter, Mrs. Chineze George -Ileka has said that Nigeria records about twelve thousand cervical cancer cases every year, leading to eight thousand deaths.
Mrs. Ileka stated this during a sensitization campaign against human papilloma virus (HPV) sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Awka.
According to Mrs. Ileka, the virus ranks as the second most common cause of death among women but stressed that cervical cancer can be prevented with vaccines given to girl- child between the ages of nine to fourteen years.
She urged people to discard the rumor flying in the social media that the vaccine is meant to prevent girls from bearing children, noting that with the sensitization, there would be a behavioral change in the society
In her speech, the principal of Kenneth Dike Memorial Secondary school, Awka Mrs. Catherine Onwura expressed appreciation for the campaign about cervical cancer, adding that the vaccine has been in the country and informed the students to tell their parents about the vaccination.
Also speaking, the principal of Henz-Dike Memorial Secondary school, Mr. Mitchell Emeka-Okoye described the campaign as good intervention meant to save lives and commended UNICEF for their kind gesture as the exercise would be beneficial to the girl- child,
In her contribution, the Headmistress of Ikwodiaku primary School, Mrs. Ukamaka Anyaene revealed that she has told her pupils to participate in the vaccination exercise, and commended UNICEF for their efforts to eradicate the deadly virus.
A total of thirty schools both primary and secondary have been visited by the sensitization team.
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