The Keta Municipal Health Directorate in the Volta Region has begun the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination exercise for girl children between age 9 to 14 years in the area.
The exercise which has a target to curb and protect young girls against cervical cancer is expected to run from Tuesday October 7 to October 11.
Madam Margaret Dovlo, Keta Municipal Public Health Nurse, disclosed to the Ghana News, in an interview that the exercise, aimed to give full protection to girls against cervical cancer which was a significant health concerned for women.
“The exercise is beginning today, October 7, through to October 11, and we expect to vaccinate not less than 500 girls across the municipality,” she said.
Madam Dovlo explained that the objective of the initiative was to prevent cervical cancer and reduce its incidence and risk among vulnerable girls aged 9 to 14 years.
She said that the HPV vaccine was safe and would not harm girl’s ability to have children have children in future as speculated but would rather give the maximum protection to the girls to give them full protection from the deadly cervical cancer which could destroy their future.
“When you look at the statistics, it is dangerous, it shows that at least more than 20 women reported at Bator hospital daily, where we have the specialist for treatment. Our young ones need to be protected.”
Madam Dovlo said that trained healthcare workers would visit schools and communities and administer the vaccine to all girls age 9-14 from 0800 to 1400 daily and appealed to all parents, teachers, stakeholders among others to enable all eligible girls who were not vaccinated to get to the nearest Hospital for free vaccine within the stipulated period.
She said the vaccine would be a routine exercise for the health directorate which would institute the activities for girl children to be vaccinated during weighing to enable girls who turn 9-14 years to receive the dosage before they get to adolescent stage.
She said the HPV vaccine worked best when given before exposure to the virus and all girls between the rage age should be vaccinated before they become exposed to the HPV, and cervical cancer was a silent killer, which can be prevent.
Madam Dovlo said the HPV vaccine prevents HPV infections and offers protection against cervical cancer later in life while the vaccine would be given as an injection, adding that,” one dose gives maximum protection against HPV infections.”
GNA
