In Maiadiko, Nigeria, Afodia Yusuf, the principal of St. Christopher’s Anglican Primary School, is on a mission to protect her students from cervical cancer. With free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines now available in Plateau State since 2024, Yusuf is working tirelessly to ensure every eligible girl gets vaccinated.
Driven by personal experiences of losing loved ones to preventable diseases, Yusuf leverages her role as a pastor’s wife and community leader to educate parents and students on the importance of the vaccine. Through letters, phone calls, and direct conversations, she addresses misconceptions and encourages participation in the national HPV vaccination campaign, supported by Gavi and the HPV Vaccine Acceleration Program Partners Initiative (HAPPI).
Her dedication has resulted in most students at her school receiving the vaccine. Moreover, her efforts have contributed to vaccinating over 6,000 girls in the Du B ward of Jos South Local Government Area, nearly double the initial target.
Yusuf remains committed to involving the Parent-Teacher Association and other community stakeholders to sustain this progress. Thanks to grassroots leaders like her, over 12 million adolescents across Nigeria have been vaccinated, paving the way for a future free from cervical cancer.