The uptake of the first dose HPV vaccine currently stands at 61 per cent since it was rolled out in the country.
The HPV vaccine is offered free of charge in all health facilities since its inclusion in the routine immunisation schedule in 2019.
Head of the National Cancer Control Programme at the Ministry of Health Mary Nyangasi on Tuesday said the overall uptake stands at 33 per cent.
Dr Nyangasi said despite the country working towards the elimination of cervical cancer, the uptake of the second dose which is to be administered six months after the first dose is currently at 31 per cent.
"If you see what this cancer does it gives you more energy to do what you can to prevent it from killing more people," Nyangasi said.
Data shows cervical cancer kills 3,209 women in the country, nine women every day.
According to the ministry, the current screening coverage is 31 per cent against the 70 per cent target by 2030.
The ministry targets to screen at least one million women and girls every year to achieve the 70 per cent target.
"We have challenges with our treatment devices so we call upon players to help our counties with these devices," Nyangasi said.
More than three years later, the optimal number of girls reached remains a concern.
The low uptake has been attributed to the Covid disruptions that led to the closure of schools yet most of the targeted population are school-going girls.
The vaccine against the cancer-causing HPV targets girls aged between 10 to 14 years and is administered in two doses six months apart, to about 9,000 public, private and faith-based facilities countrywide.
Cervical cancer ranks fourth globally in both incidence and cancer-related mortality among women.
