The Oyo State Government has defended the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine as a preventative measure against cervical cancer, stating that it is not aimed at reducing the African population.
The state has launched the HPV vaccine into the Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI), targeting girls aged 9–14. Dr. Muideen Olatunji, Executive Secretary of Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, stated that the vaccine was produced to prevent the disease, not to reduce it. The government has trained and retrained those administering the vaccine, and measures are in place to ensure safety.
The vaccine is cost-effective and safe, preventing the need for treatment or management when cervical cancer has set in.