Kaduna, WaVa Hosts High-Level Stakeholders Dialogue on HPV Vaccine Sustainability
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
Stakeholders from government, health, and community leadership convened in Kaduna State yesterday for a one-day Policy Dialogue Meeting aimed at charting a sustainable roadmap for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
The event was organized by the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board in collaboration with Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA), under a consortium led by Management Sciences for Health (MSH) and the Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR).
The dialogue comes after the successful introduction of HPV vaccination into Nigeria’s routine immunization schedule, a key intervention in preventing cervical cancer, which continues to claim the lives of many women in the country.
Pharmacist Aisha Isyaku, representing the Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Umma K. Ahmed, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing that HPV vaccination is a historic milestone in public health. She urged that the vaccine must remain available, affordable, and accessible to every eligible girl in Kaduna State.
Isyaku called for strong government leadership, continued collaboration with partners, and active community engagement, while encouraging parents, healthcare workers, and traditional leaders to support vaccine uptake.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Anthony Shamang praised stakeholders for their commitment to protecting the health of young girls.
He described HPV vaccination as “one of the most impactful public health innovations” and stressed the need for policy alignment, partnership strengthening, and sustained investment to achieve equitable coverage.
Representing His Royal Highness, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Jibril Muhammad Magaji, District Head of Kawo, conveyed the Emir’s appreciation for the collaboration between the government and partners.
He assured participants that traditional institutions would work to ensure the HPV vaccination message reaches every household, highlighting the critical role of grassroots leaders in promoting acceptance.
Goodness Hadley, Director of Programs at WAVA, congratulated Kaduna State for achieving 100% coverage during the HPV vaccination rollout, calling it a milestone that reflects strong multi-sectoral collaboration.
She stressed the importance of sustaining momentum through attention to financing, policy, and program delivery, while reducing reliance on donor support.
Hon. Barnabas Haruna, Chairman of the Kaduna State House of Assembly Committee on Health, commended the participation of traditional leaders and stakeholders, describing the meeting as a vital step toward translating plans into actionable health outcomes.
Representing the Chairman of the Committee on Primary Healthcare, Hon. Emmanuel Bako, emphasized that lessons from the dialogue must be applied in communities to ensure that HPV vaccination reaches the intended beneficiaries.
Balarabe Tijjani (Bunu Zazzau), representing the Family Health and Nutrition Initiative (FHANI), highlighted ongoing challenges related to public acceptance of the vaccine, particularly misconceptions about infertility.
He praised the Kaduna State Government for its responsiveness to health policy advocacy and called for sustained investment in health programs to maintain progress and ensure long-term impact.
Dr. Ayandipo Yemisi, Senior Program Manager and Project Lead at MSH, underscored the organization’s commitment to strengthening government-led health systems to ensure HPV vaccination reaches every eligible girl in Kaduna.
She urged the Kaduna State Government to demonstrate leadership through state-level funding, noting that sustainable investment would position Kaduna as a national model for HPV vaccination delivery.
The dialogue emphasized the importance of sustainability, community engagement, partnerships, and long-term financing and policy support to integrate HPV vaccination into routine immunization.
Participants collectively committed to translating discussions into actionable strategies to safeguard the health of Kaduna’s girls and set a benchmark for HPV vaccine sustainability across Nigeria.
