Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the vaccine, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which prevents women from developing cervical cancer, is expected to go a long way in curbing the deadly disease.
“The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) registered this vaccine last year and we are expecting it to go a long way in preventing women from developing cervical cancer,” he said.
He also said that Zimbabwe is working on strategies to fight cancer and is working in partnership with other African countries to achieve this initiative.
“As African countries, we have been holding several meetings on how to reduce the cancer virus especially in Sub Saharan Africa which has large numbers of women suffering from cervical cancer. We are still working on the best strategic plan to ensure every girl between 9 to 12 years of age gets access to the vaccine but however this will take time for us to accomplish,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora said the HPV vaccine would be administered to girls between the ages of nine and twelve because sexual debut was unlikely at this age.
"Early vaccination is ideal because sexual debut is unlikely at this age and it is best to get vaccinated at a young age when the immune system is at its strongest and therefore will mount a healthy antibody response to the vaccine," he said.
What has caused the delay in the vaccination is that we have not acquired enough medicines and we have been facing challenges financially.
“As government we have not acquired enough resources to kick start the programme and this has been a major contributor to the setback,” he said.
According to the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ) information officer, Mr Tafadzwa Chigariro implored government to prioritize fighting cancer as delay can cause death.
“The authorities are taking too long to introduce the vaccination programme. The postponement is a major setback as most people were now happy that at least there is now a solution to the cancer problem in the country. Talk about the vaccine began in 2010. We went through 2011, 2012 waiting patiently, now its 2013 and they are postponing it again to 2014.
“All government did between 2010 and 2011 was discuss policy guidelines without zooming in on the aspect of resources which has caused the delay of the programme,” he said.
The government would collaborate with Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (Gavi) to raise funds for the programme and the vaccine would be free of charge. In Zimbabwe, cervical cancer is the second cause of high mortality after Kaposi's sarcoma.
Despite the fact that cervical cancer is preventable and curable, many women are succumbing to it.
Post published in: News
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