The Ministry of Health plans school outreach programmes to increase the uptake of the HPV vaccine in the country.
Despite the availability of the vaccine, uptake remains suboptimal mostly due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which led to the closure of schools and restrictions of movement.
Ministry of data places the current uptake of the first dose at 75 per cent due to sustained outreaches in the communities up from 52 per cent in 2022.
The uptake of the second dose stands at 42 per cent, up from 29 per cent in 2022.
“The improvement in performance has been as a result of the outreaches conducted in schools and the community,” Education PS Belio Kipsang said.
“Subsequently, there will be HPV school outreaches linked with various health facilities,” he added.
Already, the ministry through the National Vaccines and Immunisation Programme with the support from Unicef has conducted sensitisation of county and subcounty Ministry of Education and TSC ooficers in 31 targeted counties with the outreaches expected to run till August 11.
They include Kisumu, Siaya, Nyamira, Kisii, Migori, Homa Bay, Vihiga, Kakakmega, Busia, Nakuru, Bomet, Kericho, Laikipia, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet and Trans Nzoia.
Others are Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Kiambu, Mombasa, Tiata Taveta, Lamu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Murang’a and Kirinyaga.
In a letter to the county directors of Education, Kipsang said the move is to catch up on the missed opportunities since the introduction of the vaccine in the country in 2019.
The ministry introduced the HPV vaccine in 2019 but there has been suboptimal uptake occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The vaccine is the most effective way to prevent cervical cancer, which kills about 3,500 women in Kenya every year.
The vaccine helps the body fight off infection by the Human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, vulvar, vaginal and penile cancers, as well as genital warts.
This virus is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex. Only about 20 countries in Africa have introduced the vaccine.
Currently, Kenya only recommends the jab to girls, aged nine to 14 years.
