Girls aged between 9, 18 to start receiving Cervical Cancer vaccination in Zomba

The Zomba District Health Office has announced that from October 27 to 31, it will begin administering the cervical cancer vaccine to girls aged between 9 and 18 in an effort to protect them from the disease.

Health Promotion Officer at the Zomba District Health Office, Happy Mwale, announced while briefing journalists on how the office will conduct the vaccination campaign.

Mwale stated that they expect to reach approximately 140,000 girls aged 9 to 18. 

The vaccination will take place in all primary and secondary schools, as well as at the University of Malawi, and in all areas within the Zomba district.

He emphasized the importance of girls receiving this vaccine as it will protect them from cervical cancer, which is a very dangerous disease.

Mwale also mentioned that they will be meeting with traditional leaders, teachers, and religious leaders to explain details about the vaccine so they can help spread the message in their communities and congregations.

In addition, he called on journalists to help in spreading awareness about the cervical cancer vaccine so that more people are informed.

“Cervical cancer is a very dangerous disease—just think, here in Malawi, about 2,300 women are diagnosed with the disease every year, and 600 women die from it annually,” he said.

Research shows that in 2022, around 660,000 women globally were diagnosed with cervical cancer, and about 350,000 women died from it. It has also been revealed that Malawi ranks second in the world in terms of the highest number of women suffering from cervical cancer.