Religious and cultural misconception about cause and transmission human papilloma virus slows down the fight against the virus that cervical cancer and other genital warts, which are ravaging women in pastoralist communities in north and north-eastern Kenya.

Experts now want leaders and menfolk in nomadic communities to facilitate HPV vaccine injection to protect women against infection.

Speaking during a press briefing in a hotel in Nairobi, Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium Executive Director Fred Were flanked by Mandera County Deputy Governor Ali Maalim disclosed that the said vaccines had been rejected in northern areas owing to their cultural beliefs but they have talked to their women and they ready to administer to all girls from the age nine to 45 years.

“As an expert in child matters, we urge the leaders to talk to their people to accept the roll out of the exercise being carried by the ministry of health for the good health of their people. The vaccine is aimed at preventing human papilloma virus that causes cervical cancer, and other genital warts. It’s recommended for pre-teens and can be given up to age of forty-five years,” Prof Fred Were stated.

Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium (Keprecon) through the Championing Evidence-Based Advocacy (CEBA) for Primary Health Care (PHC) and Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNNCAH+N) wants north-eastern Kenya religious leaders to advocate for the HPV vaccination among the women living in pastoralist areas.

Prof Were said that the vaccine is most effective when given before sexual activity begins, but it still offers protection if given later. The meeting also aimed at addressing and clarifying cultural and religious concerns around the HPV vaccine to foster community acceptance and strengthen the role of religious leaders as advocates for HPV vaccination uptake within their counties, which had received a lot of backlash.

Maalim noted that they have lost a number of women in the four counties namely Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir and Garrisa to cancerous diseases.

“We have been told so many things about our historical injustices, but it is the highest opportunity to forgo all those stories and advocate for these preventive measures. As a community, we have lost many lives due to these HPV,” Maalim said.

Maalim said that the three county health departments have agreed to work closely with the ministry of health to ensure the vaccination is carried out hundred per cent to all targeted age groups.

Wajir County First Lady Rukia Abdinasir also appealed to teenagers and all mothers living in those areas to come out for the crucial vaccination within the timelines that the government has set.

“I want to urge women from my county of Wajir, Isiolo, Mandera and Garissa to let their girl child get the vaccination and all other women up to the age of 45 because we have understood the importance of this immunisation lest we continue losing our people without preventing some of curable diseases,’’ Rukia advised.

The consortium underscored that the reason for the lack of information by these communities may stem from not being informed.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Joan Ogolla