Cervical cancer vaccination campaign launched in Huye

HUYE- The Mayor of Huye District, Eugene Kayiranga Muzuka, has advised girls to turn up for vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the virus that causes cervical cancer.He made the call Tuesday while addressing residents of Mukura Sector during the launch of vaccination campaign. The mayor told the girls that the campaign was an opportunity to protect their lives against cervical cancer.“When the government comes up with such initiatives to protect your health, you should also respond positively and recognise the efforts by embracing this campaign,” he said.He called on parents to encourage young girls in their respective families and communities to embrace the campaign.The programme to immunise girls against cervical cancer targets girls between the ages of 11 and 15 and is currently being carried out across the country.The vaccine rollout programme, which started in April 2011, made Rwanda the first country in Africa to use the HPV vaccination.For the vaccine to be effective, each girl must receive three doses. The current vaccination campaign targets girls who received two doses in the second phase of the campaign that kicked off in March.The World Health Organisation (WHO) has ranked cervical cancer as the leading cause of deaths among women in the country.The beginning of the vaccination campaign coincided with the launch of the ‘Mother and Child Health Week” that is meant to foster more attention to post-natal care.The programme will feature sensitisation events on hygiene and sanitation, family planning and post-natal care.Also, infants aged between six to 59 months, pregnant women and mothers whose children are under six weeks, will receive the Vitamin A supplement.According to the Director of Kabutare Hospital, Dr Adolphe Karamaga, the event is aimed at improving the health of mothers and children.“We hope to register a high turnout of residents for this exercise,” Karamaga noted, insisting that enough sensitisation had been carried out widely in the weeklong programme.

National

Cervical cancer vaccination campaign launched in Huye