HEALTH FOR ALL COALITION URGE CITIZENS TO SCALE UP THE UTILIZATION OF HPV AND OTHER ROUTINE VACCINATION SERVICES IN SIERRA LEONE
In a press release, the Executive Director of Health For All Coalition Sierra Leone, Mr. Charles Mambu, is urging all Sierra Leoneans, particularly women, children, and young girls aged 9-14 years, to prioritize their health by receiving the HPV vaccine and other routine vaccinations at the nearest health centers.
He further revealed that Sierra Leone is one of the countries in Sub-Sahara Africa that had been credited by health development partners to have achieved high coverage of immunization of women, girls and children over a long period of time.
Mr. Mambu however, revealed that there are challenges in the uptake of HPV vaccines services which includes but not limited to: cultural and traditional believes, inadequate community engagements on information about immunization, misconception about vaccines causing infertility, illness and some religious groups opposing vaccination due to beliefs.
Against those challenges, Mr. Charles Mambu urged everyone not to hesitate to take vaccine due to rumor and misinformation, citizens and communities should avoid associating killer diseases to cultural, religious and other beliefs, women, girls, and children that are eligible to take the vaccine to go to the nearest health facility for vaccination and that all girls between the ages of 9-14 should go to the hospital to take the HPV vaccines to save them from cervical cancer and other diseases.
He climaxed by assuring all that Health For All Coalition Sierra Leone and partners will continue to advocate for increasing demand for HPV and other routine vaccination services in Sierra Leone.
Health For All Coalition Sierra Leone is a civil society non- governmental organization that advocate for available, accessible and affordable health care services in Sierra Leone is in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and with support from the Global Alliance on Vaccine and Immunization is providing support to Sierra Leone MoH/EPI through community engagements, sensitization, for increase demand in the utilization of HPV, routine vaccination and other primary health care services.
The project is being implemented in eight districts including Western Area Urban, Kono, Kailahun, Kenema, Pujehun, Bonthe, Moyamba and Bo.
