Laerskool Kensington Primary pupils received the first round of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination on February 24.
A Bez Valley Clinic team visited the school for the day to administer the vaccinations to the Grade 4 girls.
The team was led by sister Alice Kunene, who was working with sister Thandeka Yengwa, sister Freda Mugomezulu and facilitator Mosima Tsiri.
The first round of the campaign kicked off on February 23 and will continue until March 20.
The campaign is conducted by the Department of Health to protect young girls from getting cervical cancer caused by HPV.
Girls in Grade 4 who are nine years and older are vaccinated provided that their parents have signed the consent forms.
The campaign is still in pilot phase and started in 2015.
Selected government schools are identified by the health department as the vaccination is expensive.
The local school was one of the schools chosen to benefit from the campaign.
“We are very pleased with the number of girls that got vaccinated today. We thank the parents for signing the consent forms for their daughters to receive the vaccination. It’s the second year we came to the school and the campaign has been received well by the school. Teachers are supportive and assist us in making sure all goes well,” said Bez Valley Clinic’s operational manager, sister Alice Kunene.
The school’s principal, Mark Holland, was pleased the campaign organisers returned to the school for the second time.
“I was glad when our school was selected for the campaign. After we were informed we embarked on informing the parents and letting them know about the benefits of the vaccination.
“We are aware the vaccine is expensive and for our school to receive it is a privilege”.
