THE two killer cancers for women are cervical and breast cancers.
That’s according to Dr Jimmy Rodgers, secretary to the Prime Minister.
He revealed this in one of the press conferences recently.
“Two cancers for women that are worrying are breast cancer and cervical cancer and they are killing our women,” he said.
These cancers, in a sense, when it is too late to be treated, are incurable.
However, these cancers can be prevented when young girls ages 9-12 if they take the Human Papillomavirus vaccine.
This HPV vaccine can cure these cancers for girls when they grow older.
“When the girls get the vaccine, at least they get some level of protection, even if they are exposed to it,” he told the press conference.
He said that is why the government are trying to prevent it from happening to girls by encouraging them to get the vaccine at an early age.
HPV is quite common in Solomon Islands.
When it is common, it is important that young girls must get the vaccine as early as possible.
Why is it important for girls ages 9-12 to get the vaccine at an early age?
It is because these age groups have pre-sexual activities and they can be exposed to HPV.
HPV is a sexual transmitting virus.
Right now, more than 50,000 girls are living in the country and not all of them are injected with the vaccine.
That is the Ministry of Health and Medical Services plead to parents to give consent for their daughter to get the vaccine because when the cancer hits, it will be too late to help girls and it will be a great regret for parents.
These breast and cervical cancers are increasing in the country.
By LACHLAN EDDIE HOE
Solomon Star, Honiara
