PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Rwanda attains 93 pct coverage in Immunization of young girls against HPV - official
Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) – Rwanda attained 93 percent coverage in immunization of young girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) by 2018, leading to a significant decrease in incidence of cervical cancer, an authoritative source revealed Monday in Kigali.
An official statement obtained Monday by PANA in Kigali quoted the Rwandan Minister of Health, Diane Gashumba, as saying cervical cancer was a disease that could be prevented and cured if diagnosed at an early stage.
Currently, HPV vaccination is recommended for girls aged 11 and 12, according to the US-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC, which is a major partner with the World Health Organization (WHO), also recommends that girls and women aged 13 to 26 years must complete the vaccine series.
Official figures from the Ministry of Health indicate that Rwanda has so far vaccinated young girls with all three doses of the HPV vaccine.
Rwanda was the first African country to introduce HPV vaccines, immunizing school girls nationwide with donated vaccines in 2012.
-0- PANA TWA/RA 4Feb2019
An official statement obtained Monday by PANA in Kigali quoted the Rwandan Minister of Health, Diane Gashumba, as saying cervical cancer was a disease that could be prevented and cured if diagnosed at an early stage.
Currently, HPV vaccination is recommended for girls aged 11 and 12, according to the US-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC, which is a major partner with the World Health Organization (WHO), also recommends that girls and women aged 13 to 26 years must complete the vaccine series.
Official figures from the Ministry of Health indicate that Rwanda has so far vaccinated young girls with all three doses of the HPV vaccine.
Rwanda was the first African country to introduce HPV vaccines, immunizing school girls nationwide with donated vaccines in 2012.
-0- PANA TWA/RA 4Feb2019
