Family Health Initiative (FAHIO), in collaboration with the Primary Health Care Board with the support of Pathfinder International, has commenced training of health teachers and counsellors across primary schools in Ogun state, to enhance their knowledge on the importance of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.

The training, which drew participants from  Odeda, Yewa North, and Ijebu North Local Government Areas (LGAs), aimed to equip Health Teachers and Counsellors with skills to educate pupils and Parents Teachers Association (PTA) about HPV prevention and  benefits of its vaccination.

Speaking at the training,  Chairperson of FAHIO, Mrs. Oluwakemi Balogun, emphasized the crucial role health teachers play in promoting HPV vaccination, saying their involvement would help the State meet national and the state target of vaccinated girls by 2030.

''This organisation is passionate about protecting the future of our children, particularly the teenage girls, hence, we are promoting the uptake of vaccine preventable diseases such as cervical cancer. The organizers are 

 glad with the turnout of the participants, and shall intensify effort to ensure that  the training is extended to other health teachers in the remaining 17 LGAs. 

"We urge all and sundry to work towards ensuring that parents and caregivers accept the vaccination for the the overall well-being of their teenage girls'', Balogun stated.

In his goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of the State  Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, commended  the health teachers for their dedication to sound health practices, enjoining them to collaborate with health workers in their areas  to drive government health initiatives.

Also speaking, the representative of World Health Organization in the State, Dr. Talaat Aladesawa and the State Coordinator of National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Folarin Solape sought  the support of the teachers to always encourage  parents to utilize government health centres for  routine  immunization, saying HPV vaccination is free, effective and safe. 

In his remark, the State Coordinator of  Pathfinder International, Mr. Emah Udeme, thanked participants for their commitment to champion the course of  HPV vaccination awareness, stressing the need for accurate information dissemination.

Earlier in his presentation, the State Health Educator, Mr. Waheed Elegbede took participants through major vaccines preventable diseases that affect children, noting  that  the virus that causes cervical cancer could  be prevented by HPV  vaccination. 

Speaking on behalf of other participants, Mr. Mufutau Ajani and Mrs. Bolanle  Bankole said the training has  broadened their understanding of HPV vaccination and its benefits.