The Addis Ababa City Administration is to launch a large-scale vaccination campaign against cervical cancer, targeting over 177 thousand girls aged 9-14. The initiative, announced jointly by Health Bureau Head Yohans Chala (MD) and Education Bureau Head Zelalem Mulatu (PhD), will run from December 30, 2024, to January 3, 2025.
The campaign will utilize 381 vaccination teams to reach girls both in and out of school at designated health centers and temporary vaccination sites across all 737 schools in Addis Ababa. Dr. Yohans stressed the importance of vaccinating this age group to prevent cervical cancer, a significant health threat in Ethiopia, second only to breast cancer in prevalence and mortality. He highlighted the need for collaboration across all sectors to ensure the campaign's success.
Dr. Zelalem emphasized the education sector's full cooperation, calling on school leaders, teachers, parents, and media to support the effort. He underscored the importance of protecting students' health for the nation's future. This campaign builds on previous efforts, with over 145,000 girls vaccinated since 2019. Cervical cancer claims over 5,000 lives annually in Ethiopia, making this vaccination drive a crucial public health intervention reported EPA.