The ministry of Health has launched cervical cancer vaccination in 12 districts of Uganda among girls of Primary Four irrespective of their age. 10-year old girls who are not in school will also be considered.
Dr Christine Ondoa, the minister of Health, will officially launch the vaccination at Anyeke Primary School in Oyam District on Sept. 6. She appealed to parents to ensure that their children are vaccinated.
Cervical cancer is the most frequent cancer in Uganda with WHO statistics showing that up to 33.6% of women harboring the human papilloma virus (a causative agent of cervical cancer) that is sexually transmitted by men to women. That is why vaccination ideally targets girls before they become sexually active.
Globally, cervical cancer ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women aged between 15 to 44 years of age.
Research has also shown that majority of women seek help when the disease is already in advanced stages and it is difficult, or too late, to treat effectively. Of these women, almost 80% of them die within five years.
Dr Ondoa says the vaccination has been made possible by the America pharmaceutical company, Merck, donating 46,000 doses to vaccinate approximately 140,000 girls in the next two years.
Dr. Anthony Mbonye, the commissioner for health services in the ministry of Health says the girls are to receive six doses within six months. The first dose will be in September, the second in November and the last dose in April. The full dose will protect the girls for life. Mbonye says the Ministry is using the Gardacil vaccine which is effective against four strains of the human Papillom virus.
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written by cheap nfl jerseys, September 19, 2012
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