GICUMBI - The third dose of vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), avirus that causes cervical cancer, has been launched in Gicumbi District.

According to the health ministry, the third dose is the last immunization course of action that will see 133,000 girls aged between 12 and 15 years targeted. Full immunization which started in April,takes six months.

In the recently concluded second dose, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, the Minister of Health, said Gicumbi came among the top districts in enforcing the vaccination in schools.She said girls not in schools
are identified by the communities.

She said the recent phase coverage recorded 97 percent participation.

"The reaction of the population on the just-concluded vaccinationphase was very great and we are very happy because we are protecting these girls who are the future of our country,” said Binagwaho.

The Minister added that the vaccination campaign will go on until the HPV becomes history in the country.
She lauded the First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, whom she said helped very much in the prevention campaign against cervical cancer in the country.

The incidence of cervical cancer in Rwanda is 49.4/100,000.In findings by the National University (NUR), among women suffering from cancer in the country, 30 percent die of cervical cancer.

Rwanda is the only African country that is offering free vaccination against the cervical cancer through the sponsorship of World HealthOrganisation whereas other people in Africa have to pay for
immunization.

Addressing the hundreds of residents, Dr. Dovlo Delanyo, the World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative, lauded the government of Rwanda for its commitment in improving the health of its people.

Delanyo, citing improvement in family planning, among others, said: "It is government commitment to health that has enabled Rwanda to be amongst one of the few countries in Africa where more than 90 percent of
children are fully immunized; where malaria is no longer threatening the lives of children as it did a few years ago.”

Delanyo pledged continued full support to the government in its efforts aimed at reducing cervical cancer in the country.

Cervical cancer occurs when cells on the cervix grow out of control.It is reported that girls usually get infected with HPV around the time they first have sex.

According to the findings by WHO, cervical cancer is the most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age and affects 490,000 women each year with more than 270,000 deaths. And about 85 percent of these dying from cervical cancer reside in developing countries.

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