Neno targets 18,000 girls with HPV vaccine

Neno District Health Office (DHO) intends to reach out to about 18,000 girls aged 9 to 18 years with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine from October 27 to 31 to protect girls from cervical cancer.

protected by reCAPTCHA

Expanded Programme on Immunization Coordinator for Neno District Health Office, Kingsley Kalinda, disclosed during a media briefing in the district on Wednesday that the HPV vaccination campaign will also help improve vaccine coverage in the area.

He added that the campaign was relevant for the district as it still has low vaccine coverage, stating that the campaign will close the gap in routine HPV vaccination.

Kalinda said vaccine coverage in Neno remains low in recent years, leaving many girls unprotected from the virus that causes cervical cancer.

“We are rolling out the HPV vaccine campaign, targeting girls aged 9 to 18 years in all communities to catch up on those that missed vaccination.

“Our coverage for routine HPV vaccines has been extremely low. We are therefore trying to reach out to all girls born between 2007 and 2016, regardless of whether they had already received the vaccine,” he added.

The coordinator attributed the low vaccine uptake to myths, misinformation associated with misconceptions, religious beliefs, as well as limited awareness about cervical cancer.

“From 2019 to 2020, we achieved coverage of 70 to 80 percent, but from 2021 to 2025, it dropped to around 40 percent. The burden of cervical cancer in Neno is high such that the campaign remain essential in protecting girls.

“This in turn, will improve community health,” he said, adding that the campaign will reach girls in schools, colleges, health facilities, markets, bus terminals, and other strategic community points to ensure that no one is left behind.

Health workers will also conduct door-to-door outreach to maximize coverage, according to the Expanded Programme on Immunization Coordinator.