Cervical cancer remains one of the deadliest yet most preventable diseases affecting women in Uganda, with thousands diagnosed every year despite the availability of an effective vaccine that can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
Health experts at the Uganda Cancer Institute are urging parents and caregivers to take advantage of the HPV vaccine, saying it could reduce the country’s heavy burden of cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths among Ugandan women.
Cervical cancer is largely caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection. While the disease is preventable, Uganda continues to record one of the highest cervical cancer rates globally, with thousands of women diagnosed every year.
Uganda registers an estimated 3,500 new cervical cancer cases annually, with about 2,400 women dying from the disease. Health experts say many of these deaths could be avoided through early prevention, particularly HPV vaccination.
Speaking to Nbs television, Dr Noleb Mugisha from the Uganda Cancer Institute emphasized the importance of vaccinating girls early.
“The HPV vaccine is given to girls from the age of 10 years, and when administered fully, it offers about 70 percent protection against cervical cancer,” Dr Mugisha said.
He explained that vaccinating girls at this age is critical because the vaccine works best before exposure to the virus, which is commonly transmitted later in life.
Cervical cancer often develops silently over many years, meaning many women only seek care when the disease is already advanced and difficult to treat. According to experts, prevention through vaccination remains the most effective long term solution.
Uganda rolled out nationwide HPV vaccination in 2015, targeting girls aged 9 to 14 years, mainly through school based programs and routine immunization services at health facilities.
The vaccine is given in two doses, six months apart.
“When girls complete both doses, we significantly reduce their lifetime risk of developing cervical cancer,” Dr Mugisha noted.
Although national reports show improvement in first dose vaccination, health officials acknowledge that many girls fail to complete the second dose, leaving them only partially protected.
Coverage remains particularly low in some parts of northern and eastern Uganda, as well as among out of school girls, who are often missed by school based vaccination programs.
Health workers point to low awareness, misinformation, and weak follow up systems as major barriers to full vaccination.
Uganda is aligned with the World Health Organization’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, which aims to ensure that 90 percent of girls are fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15.
