The campaign to protect girls against cervical cancer is in full swing at public schools across the City of Johannesburg.
Trained and equipped City health workers are hard at work visiting 520 schools in all the seven regions to administer the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV1) vaccine to girl learners aged 9 years.
The campaign aims to reduce the incidence of cancer of the cervix through the introduction of the vaccine before they (learners) are exposed to HPV infection.
The city’s Health Department plans to reach about 30 000 learners during the campaign. The vaccine is administered in two doses. The first dose (HPV1) started on 05 February and will continue until 15 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 Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the primary underlying cause of cervical cancer, which is transmitted through skin to skin contact and is a common virus infecting most people at some point in their lives. There are different types of HPV and some virus types can infect the cells that lead to cancer. About 40 types of HPV are sexually transmitted through genital contact, while mostly two types (16 + 18) are considered to be high risk in South Africa. High risk types are estimated to cause: 70% of cervical cancers; 50% of vaginal & vulvar cancers; and 20% of head & neck cancers.
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 HPV vaccine is important to protect against HPV infection that could lead to cervical cancer later in life. The vaccine has been used in more than 130 countries globally.
Member of the Mayoral Committee, Councillor Mpho Phalatse said the City through its health department is committed to driving the campaign and other prevention programmes to ensure that girls are protected from cervical cancer. Phalatse said the cases of teenage pregnancy that we see within our city are clear indication that our girls are starting to have sex at a younger age, and that they do not always practice safe sex. “Given the fact that cervical cancer is caused by the Human Papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted virus, and that the period just after a woman’s sexual debut is known to be the peak time for infection, it is extremely important that we immunize our girls against HPV before they even start having sex,” said Phalatse.
Phalatse added that health workers will also use the opportunity to identify learners that were not vaccinated last year for various reasons, including the shortage of vaccines. She said learners that did not receive their second does last year, will receive it this year.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 570 000 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed worldwide in 2018. Seeing that 90% of cervical cancer deaths occur in low and middle income countries, Phalatse said we need to wake up as South Africans and start doing our bit to prevent these unnecessary deaths. “We urge parents of Grade 4 girl children aged 9 years and above to cooperate with us and give the necessary 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,” she said.
For media queries or interview opportunities, please contact:
Lesego Mathibela
Stakeholder Manager - Office of the MMC for Health and Social Development
Call: (011) 407 6725 OR 061 497 8286
E-mail: LesegoMat@joburg.org.za
