The South African (SA) ADepartment of Health will today begin its nationwide Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination drive targeting girls aged nine years and older.
HPV is a common virus that can infect both males and females and is responsible for causing cervical cancer in women later in life. The virus is primarily spread through skin-to-skin contact, often during sexual intercourse.
The department says the vaccination campaign aims to protect young girls from cervical cancer, which remains the second most common cancer among women in SA after breast cancer.
Health officials say vaccinating girls at a young age offers the best protection before potential exposure to the virus.
Doctor Fikile Ndlovu from the Department of Health explains:
“The campaign looks at young girls at the age of nine, which is pre-teen. We must vaccinate our young girls before they are infected with HPV, hence choosing that age because it means you get a good immune response. It is before you become sexually active and get the HPV infection, so you get maximum protection in the future in terms of not getting cervical cancer,” says Ndlovu.
The department has urged parents and guardians to ensure eligible girls receive the vaccine as part of the country’s long-term cancer prevention strategy.
–ChannelAfrica–
