29 June 2016

4,000 girls miss out on cervical cancer vaccination



SEMBABULE- About 4,037 girls aged 9-13 have missed out on cervical cancer immunisation due to shortage of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine.






The free exercise was launched last year to reduce on the high cases of cervical cancer in the country.






However, in Sembabule District, the exercise has been hampered by the shortage of HPV vaccine.






Ms Masituula Nalwada, the in-charge of the district vaccine centre, said the target was to immunise about 6,687 girls but the district received only 2,650 doses of HPV vaccine, leaving a total of 4, 037 girls in the targetted age bracket not immunised.






“The parents have brought their children for immunisation but we have a shortage of vacciness,” Ms Masituula said
She said the Health ministry sent them vaccines without considering the district’s targeted population.






Health officials in the district had also planned to use the same opportunity to immunise the girls against tetanus.
The district health officer, Dr Charles Matovu, said he is going to request the Ministry of Health to dispatch more vaccines .






The HPV vaccine is taken in two dozes at an interval of six months and can prevent cervical cancer as well as some cancers of the lungs.






Cervical cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women aged 15 to 44. About 3,915 women are diagnosed with the virus annually and 2,275 women succumb to the disease per year, according to the Health ministry.






editorial@ug.nationmedia.com






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