By Ibrahim Sorie Koroma
Health Education Officer – HEP/MoHS
The Deputy Director of Education in Tonkolili District, Gibrilla A. Sesay has urged authorities that all girls aged 10 in schools should be vaccinated as vaccination against cervical cancer is the best opportunity for girls to be protected against the disease. He added that schools are a good platform where lot of the target children can be reached and vaccinated.
Mr. Sesay made this statement at the district launch of the HPV Vaccination roll-out at the District Healthy Management Team Compound in Magburaka Monday October 3rd 2022.
Director Sesay continued that they are fully onboard from the planning process and the vaccine roll-out implementation together with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, and that they have orientated teachers to support the vaccination process in schools.
Giving out the benefit of HPV vaccination, Director Sesay referenced that according to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Cervical Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Sierra Leone after breast cancer which he noted is a major concern for every nation. He added that the women that are currently suffering from Cervical Cancer do not have the opportunity the 10 year old girls were having that day and urged parents and stakeholders to make use of the valuable opportunity. He reminded parents and stakeholders that the administration of the first dose would go with a vaccination card which they should keep for the second dose which will be due in 6 months.
Talking about awareness raising, Director Sesay said that they had also supported the dissemination of messages and awareness raising materials of HPV Vaccination/cervical cancer in schools and participated in community radio discussion programmes.