Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Government unveiled here on Tuesday that it has expanded the coverage of human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization to prevent cervical cancer cases."Cervical cancer is a deadly disease and is one of the highest financing burdens for the state," the Health Ministry's Director of Immunization Management Prima Yosephine said.
At an educational event about cervical cancer prevention for students, teachers, and parents of students in Denpasar, she explained that one of the cervical cancer prevention efforts is getting the HPV vaccine.
She pointed out that the government is also carrying out an intensive catch-up immunization program targeting 15-year-old girls who have not received the HPV immunization, both those who attend school and those who do not.
A catch-up immunization program was recently held at a junior high school in Denpasar, where dozens of Grade 9 students received the HPV shot.
To speed up the HPV immunization program, Yosephine said, the government is also holding the School Immunization Month (BIAS) for girls aged 11 and 12 years in grades 5 and 6 of elementary school or equivalent.
Although the HPV immunization coverage is going quite well, efforts to educate the public about the disease remain a challenge, she added.
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For this reason, the government has collaborated with a private biopharmaceutical company to hold an educational campaign to increase public understanding of the importance of cervical cancer prevention.
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Meanwhile, pediatrician Ketut Dewi Kumara explained that HPV immunization not only reduces the rate of HPV infection, but also significantly lowers the risk of cervical cancer.
"Research also shows that HPV immunization is safe to administer and effective in preventing the spread of cervical cancer," she said.
