Health Minister Binagwaho immunizes a girl with HPV vaccine during a recent campaign
Rwanda has registered achievements in curbing the rise in cervical cancer. This has been attained through comprehensive national cervical cancer prevention program including human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for girls and HPV testing for women.
In 2011, the Ministry of Health launched a comprehensive national cervical cancer prevention campaign targeting all girls in Primary 6 (ages 11 and 12 years).
In 2012, the campaign targeted secondary school girls. To sensitize both girls and parents, the ministry used the mass media and outreach activities in schools. The out-of-school girls were targeted through community health workers.
Two years down the road, statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that Rwanda vaccinated 227,246 girls with all the three doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
Among eligible girls, three-dose coverage rates of 93.2 percent and 96.6 percent were achieved in 2011 and 2012.
In 2013, so far the total children vaccinated with first dose and second doses are 136,336 which is 99.3 percent.
According to the Minister of Health Dr Agnes Binagwaho, Rwanda has initiated nationwide screening and treatment programmes that are based on visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid and various advanced treatment options.
Rwanda is the first nation in Africa to offer a comprehensive prevention program for cervical cancer that incorporates both vaccinations against four types of HPV for appropriate girls and modern molecular diagnostic screening for women.
Cervical cancer, which is caused by certain types of HPV, is ranked by the World Health Organization as the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. The HPV vaccine significantly reduces the risk of cervical cancer.
Source:http://www.ubuzimabwacu.com/2013/09/rwanda-registers-achievements-in-curbing-cervical-cancer/
Rwanda registers achievements in curbing cervical cancer