HPV Vaccine officially launched in Bartica
DPI, Guyana, Monday, October 16, 2017
School children from Bartica and surrounding communities in Region Seven, participated in the national launch of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination campaign on Sunday.
Nine-year-old Shoneta Jeffrey takes the first HPV Vaccine, administered by Minister within the Ministry of health Dr. Karen Cummings.
The Health Minister Dr. Karen Cummings administered the first vaccine to nine-year-old Shoneta Jeffrey a student of the Agatash Primary school.
Dr. Cummings reminded residents 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 end goal being ninety percent coverage of the target population.
The minister also emphasised 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.
Meanwhile, UNICEF representative, Sylvie Fouet, underscored that parents are instrumental in ensuring that their children are vaccinated. She noted that prevention of any disease is the surest means of eradicating it.
Young girls in the targeted population will need to take two doses of the vaccines which will take effect in about 10 to 20 years when they are adult women
The Vaccination campaign is conducted under the purview of the Maternal and Child Health Department of the Ministry of Public Health.
At the ceremony held at the Bartica Community Centre ground, there were representatives from the region, the ministries of Education and Health, PAHO/WHO and UNICEF.
By: Natasha Smith.
Children Performing a song about the HPV vaccine.
From left: Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings, UNICEF Representative Sylvie Fouet, Bartica Deputy Mayor Kamal Persaud, Regional Executive Officer region 7 Roderick Edinboro and Janice Woolford PAHO/WHO representative.
School children at the National Launch of the HPV Vaccine.