Endemic Non-Communicable Diseases
HPV vaccine scale-up in limited-resource settings
Friends and colleagues,
There was discussion during the International Papillomavirus conference, in Berlin, regarding the feasibility to implement HPV vaccination program in sub-Saharan Africa.
The GAVI alliance is committed to make the vaccine available for 5$ per dose. But ministries of health need to share 0.20$ per dose.
Also there is no cancer screening program available until now.
Meant to share these thoughts with the NCD community and to learn more about your experiences and assumptions regarding:
- HPV vaccine scale-up?
- Screening and treating cervical cancer?
Rose Muhindo
Actually Ca cervix is of concern in Sub Saharan Africa especially in the areas of high prevalence of HIV. Currently in one of our hospitals in Uganda, there is an active cervical cancer screening program which gets overwhelmed with the large number of patients. It is definitely a good and worthwhile project. I agree with the making of the HPV vaccine available and affordable. The issue with most of our governments in developing countries is the lack of sustainability of programs. Wouldn't it be better if the ministries were to contribute a little more than $0.20 so that the patient pays about 3 dollars?
Dr. Rose Kabagambe Muhindo<br>Mbarara University Teaching Hospital <br>P.O.Box 1410 <br>Mbarara <br>Uganda <br>Tel +256 772 406337 <br></em></strong></font></div>
10:53 AM, 9 Nov 2011 | Permalink
Ziad El-Khatib
Thank you Dr. Rose,
Funds sustainability is a very important issue indeed. The vaccination is going to target young girls. Do you think schools would/can help in such campaigns?
What is the approximate drop-out rate, from schools, for young girls?
11:33 AM, 9 Nov 2011 | Permalink