WAVA Convenes Kano State Policy Dialogue, Charts Roadmap for Sustainable HPV Vaccine and Immunization Delivery
Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA) convened a high-level policy dialogue in Kano State, focusing on creating a sustainable roadmap for the delivery of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and strengthening routine immunization systems.
The dialogue centered on building resilient systems to ensure all girls and women in Kano State, regardless of location or socioeconomic status, have equitable access to life-saving vaccines.
In his opening remarks, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, underscored the state government’s full support. He highlighted Kano’s proven track record and the crucial role of religious leaders in achieving past successes.
“We have the backing of the religious leaders, and because of this, during our last vaccination campaign, we achieved 94 percent success with no issues in Kano,we are willing to be part of this program, and we are providing the enabling environment for the program to thrive.”
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Echoing this sentiment, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, represented by Alhaji Umar Sanusi (Hakimin Munjibir), pledged the unwavering support of the traditional institution. He emphasized their unique position to mobilize communities from the grassroots level.
“The traditional institution is willing to give its support because we are close to the grassroots,.We want to announce that HPV Vaccination and all vaccination programs in Kano will be a success because we are willing to provide all utmost cooperation from the Emir, the District Heads, Village Heads, and Ward Heads.”
The chairman House Committee on health Honorable Alhassan Is’haq represented by honorable Ali Alhassan Kiyawa , representing shanono and Bagwai , affirmed the role of policymakers in improving service delivery to ensure all eligible girls and women can access the HPV vaccine.
In her welcoming address, Goodness Hadley of WAVA framed the dialogue as a critical step towards a broader goal. She explained that the initiative extends beyond simply introducing the HPV vaccine.
“These dialogues go beyond HPV; they are about strengthening data use, building workforce capacity, and ensuring vaccines reach every girl and woman whether in school or out, in cities or remote areas through deliberate, routine systems of financing, data, and community engagement,” Hadley stated.
Addressing a key challenge in public health, Ayeeshat J. Ahmad, Editor of Pulse Time Nigeria, highlighted the media’s pivotal role in combating misinformation. She proposed actionable strategies, including community empowerment through media literacy and establishing task forces.
“Empowering the communities through media and establishing task forces to share and educate people regarding misinformation and providing experts who can correct the misinformation,”
She also called for better access to resource persons from ministries, health experts, and CSOs to aid journalists in their work.
The event featured a panel discussion with representatives from CSOs, media, and academia, who delved deeper into the practical steps needed to create a sustainable and effective roadmap for HPV vaccine delivery in the state.
The Kano State Policy Dialogue marks a pivotal moment of multi-sectoral collaboration, signaling a strong, unified front to protect the health of women and girls and build a stronger immunization infrastructure for all.