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Sharon Chikowore Mashonaland West Bureau
At least 90 000 girls aged between 10 and 15 in Mashonaland West Province were vaccinated during the Second National Human Papilloma Vaccination (HPV)programme which ended last week.
The HPV programme was targeting to vaccinate young girls against cervical cancer, with officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care visiting schools and health centres in the province.
About 91 973 girls participated in the programme, according to the Mashonaland West provincial health promotion officer Mr George Kambondo.
In an interview recently, Mr Kambondo said the programme started last year with the province targeting to surpass the 92 percent coverage achieved last year to about 108 percent this year.
“The programme was launched last year and it’s expected to benefit all the young girls in the country,” he said.
“This year in our province we were targeting 91 973 girls from 94 305 targeted last year.
“This is our second phase of vaccinating girls who got the dose last year since two doses are required for one to be adequately protected.”
“Girls aged 10 to 14 years, in and out of school, who missed out in 2018 received their first dose and those who received their first dose of HPV in 2018 got their second and final dose.”
The province used boats to visit some communities on islands around Lake Kariba.
HPV Vaccine has been proved to be safe, effective and protects women and girls from developing cervical cancer.
The Human Papilloma Virus causes cervical cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer among women in Zimbabwe.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter