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Uganda: HPV Vaccine to Help Fight Cervical Cancer
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The Monitor (Kampala)
24 July 2008
Posted to the web 24 July 2008
Edgar R. Batte
In an effort to fast-track the spread of cervical cancer, the Ministry of Health recently introduced the HPV vaccine. Now available in the local market, the vaccine can be used by females within the age bracket of 9-26 years.
This seems to be the answer to an estimated 466,000 new cases of cervical cancer that occur annually worldwide, majority of these in developing countries such as Uganda.
As such, the use of the HPV vaccine took centre at deliberations at the recent 2nd Stop Cervical Cancer in Africa conference that ended on Tuesday. Cervical cancer, which has also been dubbed the sillent killer is primarily caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Currently, the Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health (Path) in close collaboration with the local health ministry and other partners are piloting vaccine introduction in Uganda in the districts of Nakasongola and Ibanda. The piloting has also been carried out in India, Vietnam and Peru.
According to Dr Emmanuel Mugisha, the Country Manager for Cervical Cancer Vaccine Project, Path which targets girls from the age of 10 years, hasn't registered adverse side effects yet.
"In one of the districts, girls have already received two doses of the vaccine and are awaiting a third dose. Coverage so far is as high as 90 percent and acceptance of the vaccine is also high," Mugisha said.
At the conference that attracted participants from over 15 countries, Mugisha explained that they were still undertaking studies on the vaccines particularly on its effects but so far, it has had negligible side effects.
Some of the reported mild common effects according to answers.com include mild soreness at the injection site as well as itching, swelling, and redness at injection site, nausea, fever, and dizziness.
"New vaccines against the HPV types that account for 70 percent of cervical cancer cases worldwide (types 16 and 18) will soon be available in many countries, having been proven at least 95 percent effective in preventing persistent HPV infection and 100 percent effective in preventing type-specific cervical lesions when given to HPV-negative girls and women," he added.
However, the use of the vaccine could take a lot to gain acceptance. "We need to actively encourage HPV vaccination and unless we accelerate access to women in low income countries (like Uganda), it is estimated more than one million women will be affected by cervical cancer by 2050," health minister Stephen Malinga explained.
Currently, a dose of the HPV vaccine is on the higher side particular in the private sector. Each dose goes for Shs160,000 (approximately $100).
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However in a recent development, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi), a union of the world's top global health agencies to which Uganda subscribes, and private partners, have approved a plan that will prioritise their support of new and underused vaccines to fight the deadly disease in the developing world.
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