The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) announced that the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is now available for female learners between the ages of nine to 15 years old in private schools to help prevent cervical cancer later in life.
The School-based Vaccination Campaign is not only accessible in private schools, but it includes a basket of services under the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) health service package.
The campaign has been under implementation for 10 years.
The department said parents must sign consent forms, permitting their daughters to be vaccinated and protected from cervical cancer caused by HPV types 16 and 18.
According to the UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef), cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in South Africa, after breast cancer.
Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, particularly women between the ages of 15 to 44 years old.
The organisation revealed that over 5 000 new cases of cervical cancer are reported annually, with most cases being fatal.
“Cervical cancer is mainly caused by the infection of the cervix by the Human papillomavirus, which is sexually transmitted. The cervix is the lower part of the womb. Infection with the human papillomavirus significantly increases the risk of developing cervical cancer later in life,” said Unicef.
The GDoH stated that the first phase of the HPV vaccination campaign, which took place between February and March, managed to vaccinate a total of 74 359 (84.6%) Grade 5 female learners through the department’s Integrated School Nurses programme.
The department came close to meeting the intended target of 87 910 learners in public primary and special schools.
The second phase of the HPV vaccination programme will end on November 15, which commenced at the beginning of this month.
The department mentioned an additional vaccine is set to be made available for both boys and girls in Grade 5, mitigating a possible outbreak of Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) disease.
“In Gauteng private schools, only the HPV vaccination will be administered during this period, while in public primary schools, a booster dose of Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine will also be given to the Grade 5 boys and girls.
“The Tdap vaccine prevents Tdap disease outbreaks in communities, particularly among adolescents. It is safe to give Tdap simultaneously with the HPV vaccine,” said the GDoH.
The department mentioned the ISHP health service package is accessible in public primary, secondary, and special schools to targeted learners in Grades 1, 4, 8, 10 and selected learners as per their educational phase.
The ISHP health service package includes the provision of health education, health assessments, and appropriate referral for further management.
“The targeted learners will receive services such as oral health, eye care, hearing and ear care, speech, nutritional assessments and physical assessment for gross and fine motor skills.
“The ISHP also includes screening for long-term health conditions, including TB screening, addressing mental health and psychological issues, provision of onsite services like deworming, immunisations, counselling and referral for sexual reproductive services, as well as substance abuse and suicide referrals,” said the GDoH.
The Star