The Thyolo District Health Office says it is targeting 95 percent coverage in its upcoming Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination campaign, aiming to reach over 105,000 girls aged between 9 and 18 years across the district.

The HPV vaccine protects against cervical cancer — the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Malawi.

Speaking during a press briefing on Friday, District Director of Health Services, Dr. Miliam Jere Nyasulu, said all necessary vaccines have already been received and that the district is fully prepared for the week-long campaign, which will run from October 27 to 31, 2025.

“We have already received the vaccines and our teams are ready to go into schools and communities,” said Dr. Jere. “We are confident that most girls will be reached and vaccinated during this campaign.”

Dr. Jere also appealed to traditional leaders, faith leaders, and teachers to support the campaign by encouraging parents and guardians to allow their daughters to get vaccinated.

“We cannot succeed without community support,” she added. “We are calling on chiefs, church leaders, and teachers to help spread the message about the importance of the HPV vaccine in protecting our girls from cervical cancer.”

Meanwhile, District Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Coordinator, Mr. Harry Chilumbu, underscored the crucial role of the media in ensuring that the message reaches every household.

“The media plays a key role in educating the public and dispelling myths about the vaccine,” said Chilumbu. “We want every parent to understand that this vaccine is safe and lifesaving," he said.

Chilumbu emphasized that the goal is to reach as many girls as possible to reduce future cases of cervical cancer, a disease that continues to pose a serious threat to women’s health in Malawi.

Statistics show that Malawi ranks second globally in cervical cancer incidence and first in mortality, with over 70 cases per 100,000 women and more than 54 deaths per 100,000. In 2022 alone, the country recorded over 4,100 new cases and nearly 3,000 deaths — accounting for more than a third of all cancer-related deaths among women.

The World Health Organization (WHO), alongside partners such as UNICEF, Gavi, and JSI, has warned that if no significant action is taken, cervical cancer cases in Malawi could rise to over 22,000 by 2030, leading to more than 15,000 deaths annually.

However, Malawi has made bold commitments toward eliminating cervical cancer by adopting WHO’s “90-70-90” targets — vaccinating 90 percent of girls with the HPV vaccine by age 15, screening 70 percent of women by ages 35 and 45, and ensuring 90 percent of diagnosed women receive timely treatment.

The HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer and is spread through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. Of the more than 100 HPV types, about 13 are known to cause cancer, with types 16 and 18 responsible for about 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases globally.