Banyuwangi – The government is committed to preventing morbidity, mortality and disability due to diseases that can be prevented by immunization. One of them is cervical cancer which often affects women.
Early prevention efforts were carried out by the Banyuwangi district government by holding Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations for 21 thousand girls in grades V and VI of elementary school.
The health service as the program implementer targets all elementary schools in Banyuwangi. The HPV vaccine is given to protect generations of Banyuwangi women from Human Papillomavirus infection which is the main cause of cervical cancer.
Acting Head of the Banyuwangi District Health Service, Amir Hidayat, said that there were 21 thousand female students who were targeted for vaccination. The details are 10 thousand class V elementary school students and 11 thousand class VI elementary school students.
The targeted fifth grade elementary school students will receive the first dose of the HPV vaccine. Meanwhile, class VI students will currently receive the second dose of the HPV vaccine.
“Grade VI students received their first dose of vaccination last year. This program in Banyuwangi has been running for the second year,” said Amir when reviewing the HPV vaccination at SDN Model Banyuwangi, Wednesday (13/9/2023).
Amir said that cases of cervical cancer nationally have increased in recent years. Likewise in Banyuwangi. Even though the number of cases in Banyuwangi is relatively low, it is currently observed to be increasing.
“There are cervical cancer sufferers in Banyuwangi, but not too many. The trend in recent years has been an increase,” said Amir.
Therefore, HPV vaccination is being intensified to prevent the risk of this dangerous disease. The Health Service is targeting all female students to have the HPV vaccine completed by next October. To maximize vaccination, the relevant agencies are deploying vaccination teams to all elementary schools in Banyuwangi.
“Because the target is school children, we are the ones who come to school. Health workers from all Community Health Centers will come to schools according to the schedule that has been arranged,” he said.
Apart from HPV vaccination, the Health Service also sent a team to carry out MR aka Measles and Rubella vaccination. The vaccine is given to first grade elementary school students to prevent the risk of measles and rubella.
“The MR vaccine is an old program. We did that on purpose share because school children’s immunization month is underway,” he continued.
Watch the video “Ministry of Health: Cervical Cancer in Indonesia Nearly 40 Thousand Cases Per Year”
(dpe/iwd)
2023-09-13 20:00:20
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