1 Million Schoolgirls To Be Vaccinated Against Cervical Cancer
The government has rolled out a programme to vaccinate school-going girls against cervical cancer.
The vaccine against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) will be administered across the country’s schools this week.
It will ensure that over a million girls will be vaccinated against the disease that kills four women in Zimbabwe every day.
The Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima said in a statement:
Over a million girls aged 10 to 15 years are set to receive the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine this week up to May 31.
The government has adopted a school-based approach for the vaccination programme, hence parents, guardians, teachers, churches and communities are urged to rally behind the ministries of Health and Education and encourage all eligible girls to receive this life-saving vaccine.
Mavima went on to thank global partners, GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations) and Vaccine Alliance among others for their support in providing adequate vaccines. He said:
We are grateful for the support from GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations) and Vaccine Alliance for availing adequate vaccines to cover all eligible girls across the country from the programme’s inception and subsequently for the annual vaccination which will continue in schools.
Other partners such as the UNFPA, WHO and Health Development Fund have pledged to support the country to ensure the success of the cervical cancer prevention programme.
