The government on Thursday launched the final phase of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign in Barishal, Chattogram, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Rangpur divisions, with support from Gavi - The Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and WHO, aiming to protect 6.2 million girls aged 10-14 from cervical cancer, said a press release.
The final phase of the campaign will span a month, building on the success of the first phase in October 2023, which vaccinated over 1.5 million girls in Dhaka division against HPV.
M A Akmall Hossain Azad, Senior Secretary of Health Service Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said, “Second highest cancer related deaths among women are caused due to cervical cancer in Bangladesh. From today, HPV vaccines will be provided free of cost in the remaining seven divisions to vaccinate girls studying in class five to nine and girls aged 10-14 years who are out of education institutions.”
“A single dose of HPV vaccine will prevent cervical cancer, protect women’s health and help to build a healthy nation,” he added.
With Gavi’s support, 6.2 million vaccines have been procured in 2024 and will be available at educational institutions or designated vaccination centres free of cost after registering on the “VaxEPI” app or on the dedicated website. Vaccination sessions will be held every day from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, except on weekends and public holidays.
“Today’s launch means millions more girls will be protected against cervical cancer in the years to come,” said Thabani Maphosa, Chief Country Delivery Officer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “Gavi, in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh, is committed to expanding access to this life-saving vaccine, ensuring that women and girls across the country have the opportunity to thrive and lead healthy lives.”
In 2023, over 14 million girls across the world -including the 1.5 million girls in Bangladesh – were vaccinated against HPV with Gavi support. This critical second vaccination phase will build on last year’s incredible progress and contribute towards the Alliance’s goal of reaching 86 million girls by the end of 2025.
“We congratulate the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the EPI Programme of the Directorate General of Health Services for completing the first phase of the groundbreaking HPV campaign in the Dhaka Division. Now it is time to get these life-saving vaccines to the girls in the remaining seven divisions of Bangladesh, especially focusing on out-of-school girls, girls studying in informal and religious schools, and girls living on the streets so that no one is left behind,” said Emma Brigham, UNICEF Representative OIC to Bangladesh.
UNICEF commits to work closely with the interim Government of Bangladesh on the overall planning and execution of the HPV campaign, the supply of HPV vaccines, cold chain maintenance, the maintenance of the Vax EPI app, and the crucial social and behavioural change communication and public outreach to make sure that every girl is protected against cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer claims the lives of about five thousand women every year in Bangladesh. However, it can be prevented through vaccination, one of the most cost-effective medical interventions; studies have shown an almost 90 per cent reduction in cervical cancer among girls who received HPV vaccine.
Dr Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative to Bangladesh, said “Vaccines Save Lives. The HPV vaccination campaign led by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is a life-saving measure that can significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer and protect future generations. By uniting in this effort, we have the power to safeguard the women of Bangladesh and pave the way for a healthier future. Our commitment is clear: to ensure that every girl between the ages of 10 and 14 receives her HPV vaccine during the nationwide campaign in October and November 2024. Together, we are championing the health and well-being of the nation’s daughters.”
WHO is working closely with the Government of Bangladesh on the overall planning, implementation and monitoring of the HPV campaign including microplanning, training, advocacy, real time supervision and monitoring, and vaccine safety surveillance to make sure that every target girl receives one dose of HPV vaccine.
Leveraging the learnings from the first phase of the campaign, and to ensure that all eligible girls have access to the vaccine, this second phase will address the barriers that prevent girls - who are not in education institutions - from registering for vaccination. Efforts will be made to engage more female teachers from religious education institutes (Qawmi Madrasha) and English medium schools and deploy sufficient healthcare workers in relevant communities.
After the campaign concludes next month, the HPV vaccine will be integrated into the routine immunisation programme for girls in Class 5 and 10-year-old girls who are out of the education system.
Meanwhile, a press release from icddr,b on Thursday said its breakthrough research has been instrumental in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) approval of Cecolin®, the fourth HPV vaccine, for single-dose public use. This significant milestone strengthens global efforts to combat cervical cancer, which claims a woman's life every two minutes, with 90% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Dr K Zaman, Senior Scientist at icddr,b and lead investigator of the trial, added, “Our research has proven the safety and efficacy of Cecolin® as a single-dose vaccine, providing a viable option for countries struggling with vaccine supply shortages. Bangladesh’s involvement in this global breakthrough is a proud moment, and we hope it inspires confidence in the HPV vaccination programme.”
Source: The Daily Sun
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
