By Sitembile Siwawa
THE roll out of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine beginning with the launch of the exercise today is set to reduce incidences of cervical cancer in Zambia.
Cervical cancer, also known as cancer of the cervix, is the uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells in the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus (womb).
It is the most common type of cancer in Zambia followed by breast cancer, prostate cancer, blood cancer and head and neck cancer.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Zambia and Tanzania have the highest incidence of cancer of the cervix in Africa.
The WHO estimates that about 500,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year and 250,000 die with 80 per cent of cancers and deaths occurring in developing countries and Zambia has not been spared from the scourge.
Doctors at Lusaka's University Teaching Hospital (UTH) diagnose more than 2,000 cases of cervical cancer each year.
Most of them die. Medics say more Zambian women are at risk since the country has over three million women over 15 years of age.
Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health Joseph Katema will launch the exercise in Chongwe to intensify community acceptance.
The target group for the exercise is girls between the ages of 10-13 who are not yet sexually-active.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends administering the vaccine to girls between 9 and13 years as it is more effective in girls not yet exposed to the HPV virus.
According to the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, after vigorous evaluations conducted globally, some common lessons were learnt on which Zambia is basing introduction of the HPV vaccine.
Expanded programme on immunisation chief officer Elicah Kamiji says the delivery strategy of HPV vaccine will be schools with high enrolment to secure high coverage.
Ms Kamiji says selecting girls for vaccination based on their grades in schools rather than age is easier to implement.
She said "Zambia decided to use a grade-based strategy to avoid difficulties encountered when using the age-based strategy as is the case in Uganda."
"The HPV vaccination exercise will align with the school schedule beginning in May 2013 and is set to cover 50,000 girls in Lusaka, Chongwe and Kafue districts over a period of two years."
This year, 25,000 girls will be targeted, with 25,000 more for next year in both Government and private schools. For the girls not attending school, possible strategies will be implemented where vaccination will take place at health centres and through outreach programmes.
Three doses will be administered over a course of six months for the young girls to be fully protected using one needle and syringe for each girl, which will be disposed of immediately after use.
However, there will be some side effects in some children such as pain on the side, fever, a bit of swelling on the injection spot, redness and itchiness.
Acting deputy director for child health Penelope Kalesha says the HPV vaccination is a trial to see if future incidences of cervical cancer can be reduced.
Currently, Zambia has the second highest rate of the disease in the world with most cases being seen in younger women.
Dr Kalesha says once the vaccine proves effective, the exercise will be extended to national level.
She said "We picked on Lusaka Province because of its high incidences of cervical cancer cases."
Dr Kalesha says the vaccine is very expensive, costing about US$180 per bottle for one girl and the programme is fully-sponsored by Government.
"Chiefs and parliamentarians should be encouraged to partner with the ministry in raising awareness on the importance of the vaccine towards the health of girls.
Parents and guardians have an important role too to encourage girls in grade four and those out of school aged 10 to get the HPV vaccine," she said.
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