adminManicaland Correspondent
Zimbabwe will run a vaccination programme against cervical cancer for young girls aged between 10 and 14 starting from May 14 to 18 this year, a health official has said. Sister-in-charge at Sakubva Hospital Ms Eunice Tendai Nyamadzawo revealed this at the Mutare District International Women’s Day belated commemorations held at Batanai Primary School in Odzi recently.
She said the cervarix vaccine would be administered on the girls as a way of protecting them from the scourge of cervical cancer that had become a major problem among women.
She said: “In Zimbabwe statistics indicate that 14 out of 100 women aged 20 to 34 have cervical cancer, while 24 out of 100 women aged 45 to 54 years have cervical cancer.
“Cervical cancer can be prevented through vaccination and abstinence from sex. The vaccination programme has already begun in Marondera and Beitbridge and some children have already been vaccinated.”
Ms Nyamadzawo encouraged women to avoid having many sexual partners and participate in the fight to end child marriages since the cause of cervical cancer was not clearly known.
Manicaland district development officer Mrs Hedwig Mukunze encouraged women to work hard and provide for their families.
She also outlined several Acts that affected women’s rights, which include the Domestic Violence Act, Marriages Act, Maintenance Act and Wills and Inheritance Act.
Mrs Mukunze challenged women to be educated since they were caretakers of their families.
“Women should take high positions in the society and must also campaign for leadership roles in the forthcoming elections as well,” she said.
Online Reporter