The National Human Papillomavirus Vaccination (HPV) Campaign for children aged 9 years to 15 years old, was launched, yesterday, at the Mahatma Gandhi Secondary School, Moka. The Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal, and other personalities were also present at the launch.
In a statement Vice Prime Minister Dookun-Luchoomun indicated that Mauritius is the first African Country to administer the vaccine to children aged 9 to 15. She added that only four countries across the globe are administering the vaccine namely England, United States of America, Australia and Germany.
She underscored that the rate of persons attaining cancer is alarming and that one of the factors that causes cancer is the papilloma virus. The virus can result in different types of cancer, she added. By administering the vaccine, a child will be protected for life, she pointed out. The vaccination of a male child will also protect his partner in future, she highlighted.
Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun stated that Government has as topmost priority the health of the population and is doing its best possible to protect the population and provide them with better quality of life. She made an appeal to all the parents to ensure that their children are vaccinated with the Papillomavirus vaccine and protect them against cancer.
For his part, Dr Jagutpal stated that Ministry is providing latest health care facilities, treatments and preventing measures against cancer. He recalled that from 2016 female children have been vaccinated against HPV with the Cervarix vaccine and that onwards both male and female children will be vaccinated with the Papillomavirus vaccine. Some 60 000 children will be vaccinated across the country.
