800,000 girls in Kenya set to receive HPV vaccine starting Friday

800,000 girls in Kenya are set to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

The free HPV vaccine will be launched on Friday, October 18, in Mombasa.

“Cancer of the Cervix, is the leading cause of cancer related deaths among women in Kenya. Nine women die from cervical Cancer in Kenya alone, every day. This is one too many! Cervical cancer is now preventable through vaccination,” Health CS Sicily Kariuki said.

It will be offered nationally alongside other routine infant vaccines through an existing network of over 9,000 public, private, faith-based and NGO health facilities.

Medical professionals will administer the vaccine to girls aged 10years.

“For maximum protection, all girls aged 10 years must receive two doses of the vaccine, six months apart,” the CS said.

She noted that in Kenya, cancer is the third leading cause of death after infectious and cardiovascular diseases.

9 women die every day from cervical cancer including those in the age group of 20s.

Last year, 49,000 new cancer cases were diagnosed and 33,000 deaths documented.

“Globally, cancer remains a major public health concern. In 2018 alone, 18.1 million new cases were diagnosed with 9.6 million deaths reported,” the Health CS added.

Yaron Wolman, Unicef Chief of Health, who was present as the CS briefed the Press said: “It’s our joint responsibility to help prevent cervical cancer.”

And according to Dr. Colin’s Tabu, Head of Vaccines & Immunization programs, 115 countries have so far incorporated the HPV vaccine in their routine immunization schedules.

Rwanda  was among the first countries to launch the vaccine in 2006.