Schoolchildren from Bartica and surrounding areas, participated in the national launch of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination campaign on Sunday.
Minister in the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings administered the first vaccine to nine-year-old Shoneta Jeffrey a student of the Agatash Primary School, the Department of Public Information said.
Dr. Cummings reminded residents that the campaign is part of the Ministry of Public Health’s plan to control the number of cervical cancer cases. Upon the recommendation of a technical group, the campaign will target girls nine to 16 years of age, with the goal being ninety percent coverage of the target population.
The minister also underlined that the HPV vaccine does not replace screening for cervical cancer and that adolescents must be educated on safe sexual practices and other risk factors for cervical cancer.
