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HPV Vaccine: Governor’s wives advocate political will, global cooperation

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Aisha Buhari donates food items to 6,000 patients across 11 Hospitals in Kano November 5, 2019 11:37 pm by ahmed.musa - Nigeria - Patients By Ahmed Ubandoma Abuja, Nov. 5, 2019 (NAN) The First Lady’s NGO, Aisha Buhari Foundation (ABF), on Tuesday presented a nutritional food items to six thousand (6,000) patients across eleven hospitals within Kano metropolis. Suleiman Haruna, the Director of Information in the First Lady’s office, made this known in a statement in Abuja. He said that a Senior official of the foundation, Fatima Rafindadi, distributed the items to the patients on behalf of the First Lady. Rafindadi was quoted as saying that the mission was in continuation of the Aisha Buhari Foundation’s determination to provide succour to the needy, especially those on the sick bed. Rafindadi urged Nigerians to support the sick people, especially some of whom may find it difficult to pay their hospital bills and feed. ”Beyond treatment and medication, this category of people need love, care and for me as Nutrition Ambassador I think there is a need to always support their nutritional requirements so that they will recover faster” she said. Responding on behalf of the Hospitals, the Chief Medical Director of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, Dr Hussaini Muhammad, expressed gratitude to the Aisha Buhari Foundation for the humanitarian gesture. According to Muhammad, the gesture will encourage other privileged Nigerians to do more for the less privileged ones. ” This Hospital is the oldest and busiest hospital in Kano state because we receive patients from long distances . “The hospital is seriously in need of medical care and this intervention will benefit the patients. “The hospital has large traffic of patients because most of their services are free,” he said. He, however, expressed gratitude to the foundation for the kind gesture. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other hospitals visited by the foundation were Hasiya Bayero Hospitals, Dala Hospital, Jakara Hospital, Dawanau Hospital, Bela Hospital, Muhammad Jidda Hospital, Infectious Diseases Hospital, Waziri Gidado Hospital, Abubakar Imam Hospital and Mariya Sunusi Hospital all in Kano
Aisha Buhari donates food items to 6,000 patients across 11 Hospitals in Kano November 5, 2019 11:37 pm by ahmed.musa - Nigeria - Patients By Ahmed Ubandoma Abuja, Nov. 5, 2019 (NAN) The First Lady’s NGO, Aisha Buhari Foundation (ABF), on Tuesday presented a nutritional food items to six thousand (6,000) patients across eleven hospitals within Kano metropolis. Suleiman Haruna, the Director of Information in the First Lady’s office, made this known in a statement in Abuja. He said that a Senior official of the foundation, Fatima Rafindadi, distributed the items to the patients on behalf of the First Lady. Rafindadi was quoted as saying that the mission was in continuation of the Aisha Buhari Foundation’s determination to provide succour to the needy, especially those on the sick bed. Rafindadi urged Nigerians to support the sick people, especially some of whom may find it difficult to pay their hospital bills and feed. ”Beyond treatment and medication, this category of people need love, care and for me as Nutrition Ambassador I think there is a need to always support their nutritional requirements so that they will recover faster” she said. Responding on behalf of the Hospitals, the Chief Medical Director of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, Dr Hussaini Muhammad, expressed gratitude to the Aisha Buhari Foundation for the humanitarian gesture. According to Muhammad, the gesture will encourage other privileged Nigerians to do more for the less privileged ones. ” This Hospital is the oldest and busiest hospital in Kano state because we receive patients from long distances . “The hospital is seriously in need of medical care and this intervention will benefit the patients. “The hospital has large traffic of patients because most of their services are free,” he said. He, however, expressed gratitude to the foundation for the kind gesture. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other hospitals visited by the foundation were Hasiya Bayero Hospitals, Dala Hospital, Jakara Hospital, Dawanau Hospital, Bela Hospital, Muhammad Jidda Hospital, Infectious Diseases Hospital, Waziri Gidado Hospital, Abubakar Imam Hospital and Mariya Sunusi Hospital all in Kano

Wives of state Governors have called for more political will, implementation of policies and global cooperation in improving access to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines for prevention of cervical cancer and quality cancer care services in the country.
HPV are vaccines that prevent infection by certain types of human papillomavirus and it helps to protect one against certain types of HPV that can lead to cancer or genital warts.
The coalition, represented by Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, Chairperson, First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), made the appeal in a statement in Abuja on Monday, while commemorating the first year of the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.
Shinkafi-Bagudu, who is also the First Lady of Kebbi State and Founder/CEO Medicaid Cancer Foundation, revealed that cervical cancer is among the two most common cancer in Nigeria with about 12,075 new cases recorded annually which could be prevented with HPV vaccination.
She however said the vaccine should be made accessible to every Nigerian, particularly adolescent girls.
“We call on global and national actors critical to delivering cervical cancer elimination to borrow from the positives of the COVID-19 pandemic response.
“When words translate into urgent actions, we have favourable outcomes.
“Accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer requires greater political will and global cooperation that will prioritise improved access to HPV vaccines for low and middle income countries,” she said.
While commending the commitment of all cervical cancer advocates in Nigeria, the group urged them to achieve 90 per cent HPV vaccination coverage, 70 per cent screening coverage, and 90 per cent access to treatment for cervical pre-cancer and cancer by year 2030.
“In Nigeria, cervical cancer is the third most common form of cancer and second most common among women. It accounted for 9.7 per cent of all malignancies in 2020, recording an estimated 12,075 new cases and
7,968 deaths annually.
“These numbers tell the unfortunate reality of cervical cancer in Nigeria and most African countries, a cancer that is largely preventable, treatable and can be eliminated,” she said.
She also recommended that HPV vaccines should be available on the nation’s routine immunisation schedule.
“Global supply chain challenges and inequalities of access have deferred this critical milestone in our elimination roadmap.
“It remains painfully unacceptable that millions of Nigerians and African adolescent girls do not have access to HPV vaccination through our primary healthcare structures.
“We must place a demand on the pharmaceutical industry, WHO, policymakers in high income countries, and the African Union to prioritise our girls and address the drivers of this inequity,” she said.
According to her, FLAC will be launching the “FLAC Vaccine Access Programme” on Nov. 17 across all the states and hold townhall meetings to increase awareness, drive demand, and most of all provide access to HPV vaccines in states.
“Our vaccine access programme will catalyse access to HPV vaccine for families that can afford out of pocket payment in the immediate term.
“And at the same time, advocating for inclusion of HPV vaccine into routine immunisation to cater for those that can’t afford out of pocket payment.”
She assured that FLAC would continue to pay close attention to the implementation of the global strategy, offering their support to bring about the desired outcomes in Nigeria.
FLAC comprises spouses of current and former state governors of Nigeria working to improve quality cancer care services in the country.

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