Ogun State Government has refuted false messages and videos circulating on social media on the negative effects of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, introduced by the Federal Government, to prevent the risk of cervical cancer in the girl-child.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Tomi Coker made this known while featuring on a personality programme in Abeokuta, saying the vaccine was not in any way a plan to reduce population or risk the lives of a girl-child by preventing her from childbearing in the future, as contained in the rumour.  

The Special Adviser intimated that the implementation of the programme which was scheduled to commence on Monday, September 25 this year across 16 States had been rescheduled by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), to a later date in October.

Speaking on the cholera outbreak in Ijebu North Local Government Area of the State, Dr. Coker said the disease was a highly contagious waterborne disease that poses a significant risk to public health as it spreads easily through contaminated food and water, noting that government had put in place measures to curtail its spread beyond the identified communities.

The Special Adviser enjoined citizens to ensure proper personal and environmental hygiene such as regular handwashing, cooking food thoroughly and prevent open defecation.