BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Health authorities ongoing campaign against the deadly HPV virus is government’s commitment to our women, says Minister of Health, Dr Paul Popora Bosawai.

Early this month, the Ministry of Health and Medical Service (MHMS), together with its partners launched the National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) catch-up campaign at Nguvia Primary School, Guadalcanal Province.

The initiative is a partnership between the ministry and its health partners namely; Global Alliance on Vaccination (GAVI), World Health Organisation, UNICEF, DFAT, PATH and the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS).

Speaking at the launch, Bosawai said it is a momentous occasion that underlines our commitment to the health and well-being of our nation’s women.

He expressed that it is the beginning of a renewed commitment and a call to all stakeholders, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, parents, churches and community leaders to join hands in this noble endeavour.

“Together, we can ensure that every eligible girl, between the ages of 9-14, receives the HPV vaccine, and we can create a future where cervical cancer is no longer a pervasive threat to our women,” he said.

Bosawai mentioned that any woman can be infected with HPV and any woman can develop cervical cancer.

“Therefore, all girls 9 to 14 years need to be vaccinated, and all women need to undergo cervical screening by age 30 and onwards, for us not to lose too many women and mothers to cervical cancer in the future,” he said.

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