IT IS TIME KENYANS EMBRACED THE HPV VACCINE AND STOP UNCALLED FOR PHOBIA
I felt sorry for my fellow Kenyan women as I listened to one critic trash the initiative by our government to have girls and women vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This said I am yet to understand his point of departure since I do not think anyone should speak against this golden move. I am tempted to think that some of us are phobic of any change, but what about the imminent death that our daughters, mothers and sisters are staring at right now?
I, therefore, begin by lauding the government for the impending rollout of the mass vaccination of girls against cervical cancer in two weeks. This is a bold move and all of us should be kissing the heavens for such wisdom. Let the nay -Sayers go roasting. I will be jubilant and walk shoulder high as I gladly accompany my 10-year-old daughter to the nearest health facility for vaccination especially if she at a greater risk of contracting the virus. This is because Cervical cancer is real and if it has not affected you, remember that no one is immune to it, unless you are an assortment of rocks!
You may wonder about where I am coming from, by this I mean my basis not origin. Worry not because the facts have it all. Besides, numbers do not lie.
In case you are not aware, there are about 100 different types of HPVs. The most common and high-risk HPV infections are HPV 16 & HPV 18.HPV is a common infection since most women get infected with the virus once they become sexually active. So the punch line is, ‘How many Kenyan girls are sexually active?” If the recent news headlines about students having their sexual orgies and escapades in Public Service Vehicles are anything to go by, then everyone should be worried. This is the 21st-century guys. Let us accept that the current generation has greatly metamorphosed and we are no longer handling 16th-century dimwits who get scared at the mention of the three-letter word. Nowadays, they do not just experiment no they go “gaga” and do it with expertise.
Although getting infected with HPV does not necessarily mean one will contract cervical cancer, it is the main risk factor that renders a woman vulnerable to cervical cancer. This is where the unique HPV vaccine comes in handy for it is the most effective means of preventing cervical cancer. To crown it all, this vaccine is very safe.
In addition to this, cervical cancer is the second most common in Kenya after breast cancer. This is according to the most up to date statistics released by the International Agency for Research on cancer. Even more startling statistics by the Ministry of Health reveal that this menacing monster claims seven lives of our sisters every day translating to 3000 lives annually. To add on, there are about 40, 000 new cases of cervical cancer each year.
The afore-mentioned statistics convince me and it should convince even the most obstinate people in Kenya and the whole world. So I wonder what some of us are waiting for them to realize that the HPV vaccine is a ‘fame fa tale’ translated as a necessary evil that we have to embrace at all costs. We cannot bear the burden of losing any more Joyce Labosos for women are the pillars upon which the entire Kenyan society is anchored.
