Phnom Penh (FN), Oct. 22 – Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and local administrations, together with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), will offer HPV vaccines free of charge to all nine-year-old girls nationwide through regular school and community vaccination outreach sessions and year-round services at health centres from 5 October 2023.
During the national launch event for the introduction of the HPV vaccine, Minister of Health Chheang Ra, encouraged all health staff and partners to work together for the protection of all girls in the country. “Cervical cancer is a public health priority in Cambodia. We are accelerating our joint efforts to eliminate this deadly disease by introducing the HPV vaccine into the Cambodian National Immunization Programme. We will ensure all nine-year-old girls can receive one dose of the HPV vaccine free of charge starting from today and plan to provide HPV vaccines to girls above nine years old through a campaign in 2025”, he stated.
UNICEF representative in Cambodia Will Parks, emphasized the importance of equity in the introduction of the HPV vaccine in Cambodia and the importance of quality sexual and reproductive health services for girls as part of primary health care. He underscored, “Ensuring all eligible girls, especially those living in high risk, urban poor, remote and rural communities, and ethnic and migrant populations, have access to the HPV vaccine and other essential services for their sexual and reproductive health is critical for safeguarding the well-being of every girl in Cambodia. UNICEF is committed to supporting the Government's efforts to eliminate cervical cancer and improve health for all.”
WHO acting representative in Cambodia Pascal Ringwald stated, “We congratulate MoH for this historic decision. The HPV vaccine is one of the Royal Government of Cambodia’s primary prevention strategies towards cervical cancer elimination. The vaccine is safe and the most effective preventive measure available against cervical cancer. Achieving more than 80 per cent coverage of one-dose HPV vaccines will benefit more people, families, and communities in decades to come.”
Country director of CHAI Cambodia Soleine Scotney, commends the MoH’s commitment to improving the futures of Cambodian girls. “The continued prioritization of new and effective vaccines like the HPV vaccine is a testament to the commitment of the MoH to the health of Cambodians. Learning from the experiences of the COVID-19 vaccination efforts, support from communities and local authorities is critical for ensuring all girls are reached and benefit from this important cervical cancer prevention measure”, she stated.
Managing director of Country Programmes Delivery at Gavi Thabani Maphosa said, “Today marks an important step in the battle against cervical cancer and its devastating impacts in Cambodia. The wait for the HPV vaccine is over, affording generations of adolescent girls across the country the opportunity to be protected against a deadly yet preventable disease. Collective and urgent action towards expanding access to all communities will be essential to make sure no girl is left behind.”
=FRESH NEWS
