Uganda Launches Vaccination Campaign Against Cervical Cancer Amid Funding Concerns
“The government of Uganda has launched a vaccination campaign against cervical cancer — the most common type of cancer among Ugandan women — but there are already fears a nationwide rollout might be jeopardized by lack of funds,” IRIN reports. “‘We have begun the pilot vaccination exercise [targeting] cervical cancer. The exercise will continue for the next two years in the selected districts before we roll it [out] countrywide,’ Health Minister Christine Ondoa said,” the news service writes, noting, “An estimated 460,000 doses of Gardasil, the vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV), will be used.” “The campaign is being supported by Merck, the company that manufactures Gardasil,” the news service continues, adding, “But Asuman Lukwago, a senior ministry health official, told IRIN, ‘We have a challenge [getting the] money to complete this program and roll it out throughout the country'” (9/6).