Pretoria - In South Africa, the Health Department is rolling out the human papilloma-virus (HPV) vaccine.
Hundreds of thousands of girls have already been vaccinated.
Professor Michael Herbst of the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) says he believes the campaign could see results within 10 to 15 years, when the numbers of those affected will have dropped dramatically.
He says it is possible that the next generation of young women who have received the vaccine, will live without fear of the devastating diagnosis of cervical cancer.
“When one looks at the high cost, not only of lives but also what it actually costs to treat a woman with cervical cancer, an incurable cancer, this campaign becomes very important. These children who get the vaccine are being given a gift and… it’s a real legacy for the minister.
Last year’s HPV vaccine campaign, in which more than 400 000 Grade 4 girls around the country received the required two doses of Gardasil, was regarded as a significant success by the department and stakeholders like Cansa.
Parents are required to give their permission for the vaccine, which costs between R700 and R1 000 a dose in the private sector.
Girls in private education are not covered by the department’s roll-out, which concentrates only on public schools. Herbst says they hope wealthier parents will take the initiative regarding their daughters’ health.
A second campaign ran in February and March this year, and about half a million girls, aged mostly nine but up to 12, were reached.
Portia Serote, women’s sector representative on the Treatment Action Campaign’s (TAC) national council, says they will continue lobbying the minister to expand the programme.
She says the TAC is worried about the limitations of the age range, children who are left out of the campaign due to socio-economic circumstances and the fact that boys are not being vaccinated.
Health Minister (Dr Aaron Motsoaledi) is open to further discussions but he’s clear on why only nine to 12-year-old girls are part of the campaign. “We have to get them immunised before they are sexually active. That was important,” he said.
The government hopes to stretch its R400-million campaign to vaccinate boys and girls.
Serote insists that boys must receive education around HPV during this campaign. They must know their responsibilities, even if they can’t yet get the jab.
“They say it is all about women, but actually it is also all about them. They are the transporters.”
Pretoria News