Integration across related programs and cross-sectors is carried out through an existing forum, namely the School/Madrasah Health Business Development Team (TP UKS/M)
Bogor City (ANTARA) – The Bogor City Health Office, West Java, has started carrying out immunization activities to prevent infection with human papilloma virus (HPV), the dominant cause of cervical cancer, targeting only grade 5 girls in elementary schools/madrasah ibtidaiyah//equivalent and school-age girls who did not attend school until the age of 11.
Head of the Bogor City Health Service Sri Nowo Retno in Bogor City, Saturday, said the target for grade 5 elementary school (SD) girls in Bogor City was 9,588 children, with a target of 95 percent. School Child Immunization Month (BIAS).
This activity takes into account the high burden of disease caused by human papilloma virus infection, which is 95 percent of the causes of cervical cancer and now that a safe HPV vaccine is available to prevent this disease, a new vaccine is added, namely the HPV vaccine into the BIAS program.
Also read: Ministry of Health plans to expand HPV immunization nationally
“Integration across related programs and cross-sectors is carried out through an existing forum, namely the School/Madrasah Health Business Development Team (TP UKS/M),” he explained.
Retno said that support from all parties was needed to successfully introduce new vaccines into the national immunization program.
As many as 95 percent of cervical cancer is caused by infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV) and is common in women of reproductive age. There are more than 100 types of HPV and about 40 types can infect the genital area.
The types that most often cause cervical cancer, vaginal vulvar cancer, anal pre-cancer, and penile cancer are types 16 and 18 while types 6 and 11 most often cause genital warts.
Currently, the national cervical cancer prevention program that has been implemented is early detection of cervical cancer with the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (IVA) method.
Also read: BioFarma: The initial stage of Nusagard’s HPV vaccine is only for national immunization
Early detection by IVA examination can only be done in married women.
According to Retno, the government’s efforts to prevent cervical cancer will be even more effective if it is accompanied by prevention efforts by administering HPV immunization to school-age children.
In carrying out HPV immunization that is integrated with BIAS, the targets that must be reached are not only children who attend formal schools but also children who attend non-formal schools, school-age children who do not attend school or drop out of school.
For targets who are not in school, the Bogor City Health Office will coordinate with the Bogor City Social Service for target data collection and its implementation will involve the puskesmas.
“The earlier HPV immunization is given the better, because it will protect children from the human papilloma virus which later causes cervical cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) vaccine safety advisory committee states that the HPV vaccine is very safe and does not contain substances that are dangerous for the body,” said Retno.
Also read: 12 million BPJS Health participants are at risk of chronic disease
2023-08-12 16:27:16
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