ADDIS ABABA – The Addis Ababa City Administration Health Bureau announced plans to vaccinate over 177,900 girls aged 9-14 against cervical cancer.
Health Bureau Head Yohans Chala (MD) and Education Bureau Head Zelalem Mulatu (PhD) jointly addressed the media yesterday to discuss the upcoming vaccination campaign.
Yohans revealed that 177,933 girls within this age group are targeted to receive the vaccine. He further stated that all necessary resources have been allocated to district health centers, and 381 vaccination teams are prepared to reach girls both in and out of school.
The vaccination campaign will be conducted from December 30, 2024, to January 3, 2025, administering the vaccine to girls aged 9 to 14.
Yohans emphasized the crucial role of vaccinating girls within this age group, both in and out of school, at designated health centers, and at temporary vaccination sites in preventing cervical cancer. He urged all sectors to collaborate to ensure the campaign’s success and facilitate effective community outreach and information dissemination.
He highlighted that cervical cancer, primarily caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), poses a significant health threat in Ethiopia, ranking second only to breast cancer in terms of prevalence and mortality.
Zelalem Mulatu, Head of the Addis Ababa City Administration Education Bureau, indicated that this vaccination campaign will be conducted in all 737 schools in Addis Ababa for girls aged 9-14 years. He called upon education sector leaders, school communities, teachers, parents, media institutions, and all relevant stakeholders to provide their full cooperation.
Cervical cancer poses a significant public health burden, causing substantial morbidity and mortality among women. In Ethiopia, it ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, following breast cancer. Annually, over 7,000 women are diagnosed with this disease, and tragically, more than 5,000 succumb to it.
Zelalem stressed that protecting the health of students is paramount for the development and future well-being of the nation.
Since the introduction of the cervical cancer vaccine in Ethiopia and Addis Ababa in 2019, over 145,000 girls have benefited from this life-saving intervention.
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 26 DECEMBER 2024
