2.4 million Girls fail to get second dose of HPV vaccine

By Ben Musanje

13^th April 2023

The Ministry of Health has revealed that over 2.4 million girls between the age of 10 -14 in the country are only vaccinated with the first dose of HPV, a Cervical cancer preventive vaccine dose.

According to the ministry, many of these girls disappear before the second dose that is received after six months off the first dose hence a low uptake to the vaccination campaign, and risking their lives.

The ministry also notes that over six hundred girls (600,000) between the same age have not been vaccinated with any single dose, which puts them at risk and prone to contracting cervical cancer at a tender age.

Dr. Richard Kabanda, the Commissioner in charge of Health Promotion, Education, and Communication at the Ministry of Health says that the challenge of low uptake is mostly recorded in Kampala Metropolitan where people close themselves in their gates, blocking the village health workers from vaccinating their children.

He further indicates that the HPV vaccination program is also being affected by pulling out of funds from the donor partners which have been supporting the mobilization and immunization exercise in the communities.

However, Dr Catherine Promise Biira, the Spokesperson and Advocacy Officer for the Uganda Women’s Cancer Support Organization (UWOCASO) appeals for improved data collection that will guide in the number of women affected by the virus and those vaccinated.

According to the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), of the 34,008 cases in the country, cervical cancer shares the biggest percentage of 20.5 approximately 6,959 cases followed by skin cancer at 11.3%, Breast cancer at 7.8%, prostate and cancer of the blood at both 7%.