Cervical cancer week commemorated
ALEXANDRA - 24 to 30 April was World Immunisation Week [WIW] to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination in saving millions of live annually.
World Immunisation Week (WIW) on 24 to 30 April aimed to raise awareness of the importance of vaccinations in saving millions of live annually.
Hopefully, South Africans joined the rest of the world in commemorating the week declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to promote immunisation as prevention against diseases around the world. The year’s focus was on closing the immunisation gap and celebrated the theme Vaccination, A Gift for Life.
In Africa and developing countries on other continents, cervical cancer is the most common of all cancers which can be prevented and cured through immunisation. This is in addition to 30 other infectious diseases which are prevented through immunisation, saving two to three million lives worldwide annually.
Despite this progress, there is is still a significant challenge to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) or cervical cancer which continues to kill many women, mostly in Africa. WHO said cervical cancer is the most common of all cancers in Africa, and will continue to be a threat demanding urgent attention. In 2012 more than half a million new cases were diagnosed, with one in five being in sub-Saharan Africa.
The cancer is mostly caused by cervical pre-cancerous lesions and as with other cancers, it is is a persistent or chronic infection. HPV is the most common sexually acquired infection in adolescents and young adults at their sexual debut stage. It is preventable through immunisation, screening and treatment.
This year, the department of education issued notices for nine- to 14-year-old schoolgirls to be vaccinated.
Details: farouk.jiwa@merck.com
