DILI, 03 june 2022 (TATOLI) – The World Health Organization (WHO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, had planned to introduce the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for 11 years, girls, as a school-based program to combat and protect against HPV, which causes the greatest risk of cervical cancer.
Human papillomavirus vaccines are vaccines that prevent infection by certain types of human papillomavirus. Available HPV vaccines protect against either two, four, or nine types of HPV. All HPV vaccines protect against at least HPV types 16 and 18, which cause the greatest risk of cervical cancer.
There are about 14 high-risk HPV types including HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68. Two of these, HPV16 and HPV18, are responsible for most HPV-related cancers.
According to the US Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, HPV vaccination is recommended for ages 11–12 years. HPV vaccines can be given starting at age of 9 years. All preteens need HPV vaccination, so they are protected from HPV infections that can cause cancer later in life.
“In the first quarter of 2023, Timor-Leste will introduce HPV Vaccination for 11 Years, School Girls, as a school-based program,” WHO Representative to Timor-Leste, Arvind Mathur said at National Hospital Guido Valadares (HNGV).
He said there’s still a lot of work that needs for launching the HPV vaccination in 2023.
Mathur called on parents whose daughters turn 11 in 2023 to get them vaccinated against human papillomavirus.
On june 2, MoH and WHO jointly launched Timor-Leste’s first Colposcopy Centre to fight and end cervical cancer in Timor-Leste.
Mathur reaffirmed WHO’s continuing technical assistance and its commitment to support MoH and the people of Timor-Leste to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.
In Timor-Leste, it is estimated that annually there are 10 cases of cervical cancer will occur in 100,000 women and 6 women die per 100,000 women due to cervical cancer. Indicating that around 60% of diagnosed cases are advanced cases.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
