Uasin gishu county targets 30,000 girls with HPV vaccine.

Uasin Gishu first lady Mrs. Lucy Mandago flagging  off HPV immunization exercise at  the county Headquarters  on Monday. She called on parents to avail their 10-year-old girls. PHOTO|COURTESY

Uasin Gishu  County is targeting to vaccinate 30,000 girls aged 10 years in the ongoing nationwide vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV).

County Health CEC Mrs Evelyne Rotich, who spoke at county headquarters on Monday during the launch of the vaccine, said  it will be administered to 10-year-old school girls in all the health facilities within the county.

While reiterating the importance of the HPV vaccine towards preventing cervical cancer, the CEC urged all parents and school heads to cooperate with the health officials during the exercise.

Mrs Rotich also called on women to take advantage of the exercise by visiting facilities for cancer screening.

The HPV vaccine is administered in two doses, the second dose will be given six months after the first dose.

Without the two doses, the vaccine will not be effective in preventing Cervical cancer.

Statistics say about 32,000 Kenyans die of the different types of cancer each year. Leaders have also been calling on the government to declare cancer a national disaster.