The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine will be made available to all 47 counties by the Ministry of Health to reduce the rising number of cervical cancer cases nationwide.
Dr. Elias Melly, the CEO of the National Cancer Institute, assured the nation that the vaccine was safe and that the government would cover the cost of the shot. He also called for an end to vaccination myths.
He cited national statistics showing that 28,000 women receive cancer diagnoses annually, the majority of them for cervical cancer, out of the 44,000 persons who receive cancer diagnoses annually.
Speaking to Community Health Promoters (CHP) in Bungoma, Dr. Melly explained that all women between the ages of 35 and 45 would be screened, and those found to be infected would receive treatment. The vaccination is given to girls starting at age 15, per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
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Mentioning that early detection through screening and treatment can prevent cervical cancer, he urged women to take the vaccination campaign seriously.
Dr. Melly noted that 3,600 women in the nation receive a cervical cancer diagnosis each year, of which 67% die. He said this situation could be avoided if women were made aware of the value of screening and vaccination.
According to him, Community Health Promoters (CHPs) will receive cancer education from the Ministry of Health to teach the same information to the local population.
One kind of STI is HPV or HIV-related sexual infection.
