Kitui County Ministry of Health has kicked-off Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccination, targeting 84,000 children below 14 years as Kenya steps up fight against Cervical Cancer.
According to the county CECM for Health and Sanitation Dr Winnie Kitetu, the vaccine will be offered countywide under the initiative sponsored by the government, the UNICEF, AFYA Choo and Clinton Health Access Initiative (Chai).
A successful HPV vaccine pilot programme was implemented in Kitui County between 2013 and 2015 whose lessons have informed national scale up.
“The exercise will run until February 22, 2022 and aims at increasing the immunization coverage across the county to optimal coverage targeting girls aged between 10 and 14 years,” Dr Kitetu said.
The CECM called on parents to avail the girls for vaccination saying it is safe and it will boost the fight against the deadly disease.
The countywide immunization exercise will be conducted simultaneously with that of measles and pentavalent for children below 5 years.
Today’s launch took place at the County Referral Hospital.
By Denson Mututo
