The Ministry of Health this month has confirmed the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine that prevents HPV infections and Cervical Cancer later in life for girls.
“HPV is a virus that causes the majority of Cervical Cancer, which is the 4th most common cancer in women worldwide.
More than 65 countries have introduced HPV vaccination into their immunization programs to protect girls from developing Cervical Cancer due to HPV.
For the vaccine to be effective in preventing cancer, girls should be vaccinated before they are exposed to HPV,” says MOH statement issued.
According to HPV data from last year says Samoa has a population of 59,197 women ages 15 years and older who are at risk of developing cervical cancer.
“Current estimates indicate that every year 10 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 6 die from the disease.
“Cervical cancer ranks as the 7th most frequent cancer among women in Samoa and the 4th most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age.
“Data is not yet available on the HPV burden in the general population of Samoa. However, in Oceania, about 8.3% of women in the general population are estimated to harbour cervical HPV-16/18 infection at a given time, and 76.6% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18.”
