The first provincial-level human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine program for girls aged 9 to 14 has launched in Papua New Guinea, marking a landmark step in the fight against cervical cancer in a country that has among the highest burdens of the disease globally.
The program is supported by the Eliminating Cervical Cancer in the Western Pacific (ECCWP) project, a partnership between Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority (WHPHA), the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney, the Daffodil Centre, the Australian Centre for Prevention of Cervical Cancer, and Family Planning Australia.
Almost 8000 age-eligible girls in Hagen Central District, Western Highlands Province, have been pre-registered to receive the HPV vaccine, following months of community engagement with the provincial education division, community and religious leaders, women’s groups, parents and schools. Volunteers have been engaged to ensure out-of-school girls are aware of the program and able to access the HPV vaccine at their local health centre, or at one of the participating schools.
"The HPV vaccine rollout in Western Highlands Province shows excellent engagement from the community, with many young girls and their families understanding the importance of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer," said Dr Paulus Ripa, Director of Curative Services, WHPHA and ECCWP PNG Project Lead. “Our collaboration with local health officials and school communities is crucial to the project's success, and we are committed to expanding this initiative to reach even more girls and women across Western Highlands Province.”
More than 130 girls received the HPV vaccine on the first day of the program at Mugand Primary School. This included 26 girls from the nearby Waipeng Elementary School, who walked 20 minutes with their teachers to Mugand Primary School to ensure they could access the vaccine as soon as possible. Representatives from Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority and local media were also present to mark the occasion.
“I am so excited that our school is the first in Western Highlands to support the rollout of the lifesaving HPV vaccine,” Mugand Primary School head teacher, Mr William Kikia, said. “I have four daughters, and I don’t want them to ever get cervical cancer in the future.” Mr Kikia also thanked the donors involved in the program. “Treatment for cervical cancer is expensive and limited in our country, and we are privileged that the HPV vaccine is now available.”
The HPV vaccine will continue to roll out in schools and health centres across Western Highlands Province throughout the rest of the year and into 2025, with a target of reaching 90 per cent (30,000) of girls aged 9-14 years.
The commitment of local communities, schools and health officials remains essential in moving towards a future where cervical cancer is no longer a threat to women in the Western Pacific.
About ECCWP
Eliminating Cervical Cancer in the Western Pacific (ECCWP) is a partnership between the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority in collaboration with C4 partners: the Daffodil Centre (a joint venture between Cancer Council NSW and The University of Sydney), the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney, the Australian Centre for Cervical Cancer Prevention, and Family Planning NSW. It is backed by an $8 million investment from Minderoo Foundation's Collaborate Against Cancer initiative, with $1.6 million provided to support activities in Western Highlands Province, in addition to donations of vaccines, equipment and consumables.
It is a world-first initiative to advance the WHO global elimination strategy at population level in our region by scaling up the robust tools, strategies and approaches proven to be highly effective, acceptable to women, and cost-effective for the primary prevention, detection and treatment of cervical pre-cancer and cancer. Over 30,000 women have been screened in Western Highlands Province (WHP), PNG and Vanuatu since June 2022, with a target of 60,000 women or 70% of each age-eligible population by December 2025.