Mauritius launches vaccination campaign against cervical cancer

PORT LOUIS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Mauritius authorities have launched a vaccination campaign against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) to prevent cervical cancer.

The vaccine campaign aims to protect girls against the four strands of HPV most associated with cervical cancer, according to the country's Minister for Health and Quality of Life Anil Gayan.

The vaccine is now part of the expanded immunization program in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.

The vaccine will be available for primary school girls. Some 9,000 girls in Mauritius and 500 in Rodrigues island will benefit from the free vaccination program.

The campaign is being conducted in collaboration with the ministry of education, human resources, tertiary education and scientific research.

According to WHO, HPV can cause cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer among women, causing about 270,000 deaths each year.