DOH – Ilocos officials and City Health Officers of Urdaneta City led the ceremonial immunization for Human papilloma Virus to Grade 4 learners of public schools during the kick-off activity held at the Urdaneta City Cultural Complex in Pangasinan on November 28, 2023
The Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region together with other stakeholders joined the City of Urdaneta as it leads the launching of the “Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Immunization Program entitled Urdaneta City SHIELD Against Cervical Cancer at the Urdaneta City Cultural Complex, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan on November 28, 2023.
A total of 240 female grade 4 learners were given the HPV vaccine during the kick-off activity.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco extended her congratulations and appreciation for institutionalizing the support for the HPV Vaccination program by enacting an ordinance for the elimination of HPV and the implementation of the immunization program among schools and communities in the city.
“This is a significant step towards intensifying the implementation of the School Based and Community Based HPV Immunization. Napakalaking bagay na maipamahagi ang ating mga HPV vaccines at mabigyan ng proteksyon ang mga kababaihan laban sa cervical cancer.
“And with your commitment and support to promoting cervical cancer prevention and the importance of life-course immunization, especially among adolescents, we can provide the essential protection they need,” Sydiongco stated.
Urdaneta City has a total of 1,168 female grade 4 learners who will be targeted for HPV vaccination. According to the city health office, the projected 9-14 year old female population in Urdaneta is 8,215.
During the program, various health partners pledged their continued support to public health through the “Kalasag ng Kalusugan” which translates to “health shield,” which reflects the collective commitment of the local and national governments to strengthen the public health shield through immunization.
Urdaneta City Health Officer Rachel Ann A. Parayno, who discussed the importance of adolescent health to participants, said that the primary target of the kick-off activity is Grade 4 female learners from the city’s public schools together with their parents to educate and engage them on what is HPV and the importance of HPV vaccination.
“We aim to create awareness and promote the uptake of vaccination services because immunization programs are essential in improving people’s health and saving lives.”
Cervical cancer is still the second most common cancer affecting women, with an estimated 7,277 new cases and 3,807 deaths due to cervical cancer estimated yearly in the country.
It is a vaccine-preventable disease and it can be eliminated by fully vaccinating 90 percent of the female population against HPV before reaching the age of 15 and intensifying school-based immunization programs will help achieve this goal.
