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If you have a girl child who is in Grade 4 and is around nine years and above, the City of Joburg is urging you to give your consent to have her vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Health workers have begun visiting over primary and special schools in the City in all the seven regions to administer the vaccine to reduce the incidence of cancer of the cervix.
“We urge parents of Grade 4 girl children aged nine years and above to give us consent for their girls to receive this life-saving intervention. It would be a serious indictment on us as government and parents if even a single one of these young ones is one day diagnosed with this now perfectly preventable condition,” said Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development Cllr Mpho Phalatse.
The vaccine is being administered in two doses. The first dose (HPV1) started on 05 February and will continue until 22 March 2019. The second dose (HPV2) will resume on 6 August and will continue until 20 September 2019. To be vaccinated, learners need to produce consent forms signed by parents/guardians.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes almost 80% of cervical cancer. The virus can infect genitals and cause warts or cervical and other cancers. Early detection and vaccination help prevent the virus from developing on the cervix. The vaccine (Cervarix) demonstrated an efficacy of 90.4% against type 16 and 18 cancer lesions.
Cervical cancer is one of the greatest threats to women’s health. At least one woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer every minute, and each year, more than 300 000 women die of the pandemic.
“It is one of the most preventable and curable forms of deadly disease only if it is detected early and managed effectively. Every woman over the age of 30 should be screened and treated for pre-cancerous lesions. Now is the time to be vaccinated to eliminate cervical cancer,” said MMC Phalatse.
The annual campaign started in 2014 in the City of Johannesburg and is done in partnership with the National Department of Health and Basic Education Department. The vaccine has been used in more than 130 countries globally.
Parents are urged to sign and return the consent forms. No learner will be vaccinated without parental consent.
