MSF Supports HPV Vaccination Campaigns in Malawi to Prevent Cervical Cancer

MSF supports HPV vaccination campaigns in Malawi, writes Winston Mwale.

BLANTYRE, Malawi — Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international medical humanitarian organisation, is actively supporting vaccination campaigns against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in Malawi, writes Winston Mwale.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends HPV vaccination for young girls between 9 and 14 as the most effective way to prevent cervical cancer among women.

According to MSF, the uptake of the HPV vaccine in Malawi has been low due to infrequent visits to health centres during that age range.

To address this issue, MSF has been collaborating with the Ministry of Health to support vaccination campaigns and ensure as many girls as possible receive their HPV vaccine.

MSF successfully vaccinated 17,000 girls in Phalombe in January and 52,000 in Machinga between February and March.

The organisation is now extending its support to the Chikwawa district, targeting over 48,000 schoolgirls from 200 district schools, along with thousands of out-of-school girls.

To reach out-of-school girls, MSF engaged 325 village heads to conduct meetings in their communities.

In addition, radio messages were broadcast on local radio stations to raise awareness and encourage these girls to receive their HPV vaccine in their villages during the campaign.

The campaign in Chikwawa is scheduled to take place from May 29 to 31. Prior to its launch, training was provided to District Environment Office Supervisors and Senior District Health Surveillance Assistants on the importance and usage of the HPV vaccine.

School headmasters, health teachers, and health surveillance assistants also played a vital role in raising awareness among parents and organising on-site vaccination.

Cervical cancer remains a significant health concern in Malawi, with the country having the second-highest mortality rate related to the disease worldwide.

The mortality rate stands at 51.5 deaths per 100,000 people per year, which is seven times higher than the global rate.

Persistent HPV infection is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer, with types 16 and 18 being particularly virulent strains, causing about 70% of cases.

Dr. George Chilinda, an MSF onco-surgeon at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, emphasised the urgency of prevention, stating that late detection results in the average age of diagnosis at 49, often too late to avoid terminal illness and suffering.

Since 2017, MSF has collaborated with the Ministry of Health and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital to develop a comprehensive cervical cancer programme in the southern region of Malawi.

The programme aims to improve access to HPV vaccination, screening, early diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care for women in the region.

The efforts of MSF, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, are critical in addressing the burden of cervical cancer and reducing mortality rates among women in Malawi.

Through ongoing vaccination campaigns and a comprehensive programme, they strive to make a significant impact on preventing cervical cancer and improving the well-being of Malawian women.