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- May 11, 2013
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The Kenyan Ministry of Health is set to rollout a cervical cancer vaccine targeting 10 year-old girls starting Friday, in a move that will see the shot included in the national immunisation routine.
The ministry has set aside Ksh800 million ($8 million) to drive the roll-out over the next one year and targets to give the free vaccine against the cancer-causing human papilloma virus (HPV) to about 800,000 girls.
Two doses of the HPV vaccine will be given to the girls six months apart, at about 9,000 public, private and faith-based facilities countrywide.
The ministry is rolling it out the immunisation plan closely with the Ministry of Education and in collaboration with development partners that include the vaccine alliance Gavi, Unicef and World Health Organization (WHO).
“There are about 27,000 reported cancer deaths every year in Kenya...these are statistics that should make anyone freeze. Cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination and our children should not miss out on this chance,” Health Cabinet Secretary, Cecily Kariuki told journalists on Wednesday in Nairobi.
“Starting this Friday we will start the routine roll-out of the cervical cancer vaccine and the country is ready with 1.3 million doses for the current year against the 800,000 target. We will give out two doses for maximum protection,” said Ms Kariuki.
www.theeastafrican.co.ke
The ministry has set aside Ksh800 million ($8 million) to drive the roll-out over the next one year and targets to give the free vaccine against the cancer-causing human papilloma virus (HPV) to about 800,000 girls.
Two doses of the HPV vaccine will be given to the girls six months apart, at about 9,000 public, private and faith-based facilities countrywide.
The ministry is rolling it out the immunisation plan closely with the Ministry of Education and in collaboration with development partners that include the vaccine alliance Gavi, Unicef and World Health Organization (WHO).
“There are about 27,000 reported cancer deaths every year in Kenya...these are statistics that should make anyone freeze. Cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination and our children should not miss out on this chance,” Health Cabinet Secretary, Cecily Kariuki told journalists on Wednesday in Nairobi.
“Starting this Friday we will start the routine roll-out of the cervical cancer vaccine and the country is ready with 1.3 million doses for the current year against the 800,000 target. We will give out two doses for maximum protection,” said Ms Kariuki.
Kenya to roll out free cervical cancer vaccine targeting 10-year-old girls
The move that will see the shot included in the national immunisation routine.
www.theeastafrican.co.ke
