The government is intensifying efforts to scale up Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among young girls, describing it as the most effective long-term weapon against cervical cancer and urging parents to fully embrace the programme.
Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the Ministry is targeting more than 90 per cent uptake of the HPV vaccine among girls below the age of 14, with the bulk of the exercise being carried out through structured school-based visits to ensure wide coverage.
She stressed that the vaccine is safe, globally approved and has been administered in the country for several years.
“The HPV vaccination programme is not new. It has been ongoing, but we must now accelerate uptake if we are to decisively address the cervical cancer burden facing our women,” Muthoni said, calling on parents and guardians to allow their children to receive the vaccine when health teams visit schools.
She noted that vaccinating girls before exposure to the virus significantly reduces the risk of cervical cancer later in life, adding that early prevention is far more effective and affordable than treating advanced disease.
The PS said that the focus is now shifting to adult women, with the government aiming to screen at least 75 per cent of women countrywide to improve early detection, adding that cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Kenyan women because many seek care only when the disease is already at an advanced stage.
Health officials estimate that more than two-thirds of cases are detected late, a challenge the ministry says can be addressed through regular screening and increased awareness at the community level.
PS Muthoni during the cleanup at Ruiru Market
Speaking during the launch of the Epuka Uchafu programme in Ruiru, Kiambu County, Muthoni said the ministry is working closely with county governments to expand screening services and strengthen public health systems.
She also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve registration under the Social Health Authority (SHA) and upgrade health facilities.
County governments, she added, have been instructed to ensure all Level Two hospitals display clear service charters outlining available services to help patients access care more efficiently.
PS Muthoni, however, criticized Kiambu County for ranking fifth nationally in reported drug abuse cases, terming it worrying, as she urged county health officials to decisively and seriously address the issue while promising that the national government is ready to provide all the support they may require as long as the problem is fully resolved.
