BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – Jabbed.
Over 10 000 girls have been vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) in the last six days.
This is according to Information released by the Ministry of Health which showed that from June 9 to 14, 2023, a total of 10231 girls had received their first jab of the HPV vaccine.
The country officially launched the HPV vaccination campaign on June 12, 2023, at Lobamba Technical Centre.
The HPV vaccine will contribute drastically to the reduction of cervical cancer. According to the regional cancer registry, Eswatini has a leading prevalence of cervical cancer.
Last year, the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg announced during the 2022/2023 budget speech that the country will introduce the HPV vaccine to girls between nine and 14 years.
He announced that E20 million was budgeted to pro-cure the vaccines.
Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi.
According to the report from the Ministry of Health, 3 660 girls from the Manzini Region received their first jab.
The second region with the highest number of girls who received their first dose was the Hhohho Region with 3 092. Shiselweni and Lubombo regions had 2 209 and 1 270 girls, respectively.
This week alone, the ministry will be in over 300 primary and high schools in the country administering the doses. After the official campaign, it would be followed by a mopping exercise, which would be aimed at reaching out to the girls who missed the campaign.
It is worth noting that the side effects of the vaccines include dizziness, fever and minor headaches while adverse side effects might include fainting and severe fever.
Since the vaccine requires two doses that should be taken at six months intervals, the last dose would be administered in February next year according to the Programme Manager at the National Cancer Control Unit (NCCU), Xolisile Dlamini.
After February next year, it was revealed that next year every girl turning nine years old would easily get vaccinated in all public health facilities. According to NCCP, in 2021 alone, 317 women in the country were diagnosed with cervical cancer. Over 80 per cent of them had HIV, while 32 per cent of those women died from cancer.
