The Ministry of Health has announced a countrywide HPV immunisation roll out for girls aged 9 – 14 years.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is effective against cervical cancer which has killed many women in The Gambia. 

The vaccine was last rollout in November 2019. 

Deputy director of HPV vaccine programme Sanjally Trawally told reporters: “This vaccination is important because cervical cancer is happening in the country and women are experiencing it.”

Mr Trawally urged the public to corporate and encourage their daughters to get immunized saying it is important for them as prevention of cervical cancer.

“Other countries have been taking this vaccine since December so if there is any side effect the whole world would have known about it,” he added.

Sidat Fofana, EPI Program Manager, said cervical cancer is a common disease in the Gambia and it is “killing our people and vaccine is the only way that can protect us, now that the vaccine is here, we have people that are confusing the population without any background knowledge and that is making their work hard and putting so many lives at risk.”

WHO recommends that adolescents, principally girls aged between nine and 14 get two doses of HPV vaccine to prevent infection with HPV, the second dose about six to 12 months after the first one.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba