17k girls to be vaccinated against HPV in Gutu

MORE than 17 000 girls drawn from 246 schools across Gutu District are set to be vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) during a 10-day vaccination programme being rolled out by, a local non-governmental organisation, Medicine Sans Frontieres (MSF).

The vaccination programme is aimed at reducing the chances of adolescent girls developing cervical cancer.

Speaking on the sidelines of an HPV vaccination programme at Kanongovere Primary School in the district, MSF nurse mentor Mrs Mercy Makaudze said they were targeting to vaccinate schoolgirls between the ages of 10 and 14 years.

“We are targeting more than 15 000 girls at various primary and secondary schools in Gutu and information from our database shows that we have an estimated 17 000 girls who need to be vaccinated across the district,” she said.

Mrs Makaudze said her organisation has already engaged Gutu traditional and political leaders to raise awareness ahead of the HPV vaccination roll out.

She said there was also need to conscientise some rural communities about the importance of having their children vaccinated as some subscribed to religious and cultural norms incompatible with modern medicine.

“We engaged community leaders to help us in mobilising people and raise awareness to make sure parents understand more about HPV medication. We also offered health training to headmasters and health officers across the district.”

Mrs Makaudze said health assessments have showed that it was essential to undertake HPV vaccination at the primary prevention level by targeting sexually inactive groups.

Speaking on the same occasion, Gutu District medical officer Dr Tapiwa Mupepe urged parents to encourage their children to undergo HPV vaccination, which greatly reduces the chances of the girl child from developing cancer.

“We urge parents to encourage the girl child to be vaccinated against HPV despite the fact that some might have their own religious and cultural beliefs.

“Vaccination reduces their chances of developing cancer before they are sexually active and the process is also done for free,” said Dr Mupepe.

In an effort to reduce cervical cancer-related deaths, Government, with the help of partners is rolling out a nationwide HPV vaccination programme targeting one million girls aged between four and 10 years.