The Minister of Health, Prof Ali Pate, has underscored the importance of vaccinating women against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in a bid to prevent cervical cancer. Speaking out against claims casting doubt on the HPV vaccine, he emphasized the vaccine’s safety and its role in providing lifelong protection against this disease.
On Wednesday, October 25, Prof Ali Pate addressed concerns related to the HPV vaccine following his visit to the Kuchingoro Primary Health Care Centre, accompanied by Prof Senait Fisseha, the Director of the Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation.
Prof Pate disclosed that his own commitment to the vaccine is unwavering, citing that he had ensured his four daughters received the HPV vaccination.
He stated that the vaccine is safe for girls as it would serve as lifelong prevention against the disease.
Pate said; “All my four daughters were vaccinated against HPV. I believe no father or mother that is in his or her right senses and fully understands the benefit of vaccines to prevent diseases will allow their children to not be vaccinated, especially if the vaccines are free.
“The only reason is if someone is either not adequately informed, or misguided by actors who do not really know what they are talking about.
“Our focus is to make this voluntary, there are not enough of these vaccines, those who choose not to receive it, they are making a mistake for their children, because they are exposing them to the risk of having those diseases.
“We saw all community leaders have played an incredible role in our efforts to deal with polio in this country. Now Polio is history and we have other vaccine preventable diseases, including for cancer, we believe that our traditional leaders will continue to play the role to educate our people.
“Check diphtheria, a very simple disease that has already afflicted thousands of children in this country.
“Ninety eight per cent of those who have had the disease in Nigeria were not vaccinated, so it tells you that if they had been vaccinated, they would not have it.”