Non-governmental health organisation Right to Care encourages South African girls to get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer.
This advocacy follows the discovery that this cancer is the second most prevalent among South African women and has a high fatality rate.
Reportedly, approximately 3 000 in South Africa die from cervical cancer annually.
The campaign for young girls to get the HPV vaccine also followed the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation that girls aged nine years and above should receive the vaccine before they become sexually active.
A free HPV vaccine is made available to all Gr. 5 girls and those nine years and above in South African public schools, as part of South Africa’s public health programme. According to the global health organisation, the vaccine ensures that when girls reach adulthood they will be protected from HPV infections which cause most of the cases of cervical cancer.
Dr Seithati Molefi, deputy chief of the health organisation Right to Care, said the main cause is infection of the cervix by HPV through sexual contact.
“HPV can be prevented with the vaccination. Parental consent is required for a girl at school to get this vaccine.
“It is therefore important for parents to understand what cervical cancer is, its causes, as well as how the HPV vaccination could protect their daughter from the disease. This helps parents make informed decisions about giving consent for vaccination as well as the possible dire consequences for their daughters if they do not have the HPV vaccination,” said Molefi.
She pointed that risk factors for HPV infections include sexual intercourse at an early age, multiple sexual partners, smoking, and an HIV infection.
“Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women living with HIV. Some 60% of sexually active women will acquire an HPV infection within five years after starting to have sex. Girls no longer in school may access the HPV vaccine at the closest health facility. If girls do not receive the vaccine before they become sexually active, their chances of developing cervical cancer increases,” said Molefi.
Molefi said medical male circumcision was equally important to cervical cancer prevention.
“It reduces the risk of a man getting infected with HPV and reduces his chance of spreading it to his female partner.
