| Updated Sat, April 22nd 2017 at 00:00 GMT +3Photo CourtesyAbout 3.5 million schoolgirls who missed the free cervical cancer vaccine may get the crucial jab if the stalled project kicks-off next year. The 3.5 million schoolgirls aged between 10-14 were at risk of missing the vaccine thanks to uncertain funding, corruption and incompetence at the Ministry of Health. The HPV vaccine piloting was launched in Kitui County four years ago, covering 42,000 girls with the promise to be rolled out nationally. To date, and with almost 1.5 million girls gone past Class Four, the recommended age for vaccination, the initiative is still stuck at piloting. Had the national roll-out taken off as promised in 2014, about 1.5 million girls at the rate of 467,000 annually would be protected against cervical cancer today.

Source: Standard Digital April 21, 2017 20:37 UTC