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Zambia: The Ministry of Health in Kalulushi District called on parents to take their girl children to be vaccinated against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The Virus is known to be the cause of the cancer of the cervix and can be prevented through vaccination.
The vaccination ffort is targeted towards girls aged between 9 to 15 years and will b carried out for all communities of the district Kalulushi District Health Pharmacist Oatney Lubwekesa discussed the aim of the initiatve.
Thee Ministry of Health wants to vaccinate girls to protect girls from Human Papilloma Virus before they are sexually active. This is why the Ministry has chosen the age of 9 to 15 years.
Luwekesa explained that HPV infection is a sexually transmitted infection and often presents without symptoms. He also added that when it advances it causes cervical cancer. The Pharmacists said this during a stakeholders meeting on HPV vaccine in Kalulushi.
He has encouraged the community to ensure that the girls are vaccinated because the effects of the HPV are quite huge and treatment is difficult to manage. He says all they are asking for as Ministry of Health is consent from their parents because of the targeted age group.
“It is better we prevent the disease before it occurs, you know managing the cancer is quite difficult, It is better to give this vaccine to ensure that we prevent this virus in this age group that we are targeting as Ministry of Health,” he said.
Chavuma Secondary School teacher Maxwell Kango said it is a very important exercise because it will help them avoid the future repercussions if the children are not vaccinated.
Kalulushi District Administration Officer Indiana Musonda said Government considers health as very important especially in children because they are the future leaders.
Musonda said there are a lot of programms in the district to do with protection against children especially in health and the education sector. Kalulushi District will hold their HPV campaign from Monday September 16 to Friday September 2024.