Life
The Bahamas to introduce HPV vaccine into public healthcare system
The Bahamas government says it plans to introduce the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine into the public healthcare system for females who are most at risk for cervical cancer.
Health Minister Dr Perry M. Gomez said discussions are taking place with the American pharmaceutical company Merck.
Public Health officials say the introduction of the vaccine into the public healthcare system will be a “major triumph” as the vaccine is currently only available within the private healthcare system and is unattainable to tens of thousands of females who are unable to afford private healthcare.
The HPV vaccine will also add “another vaccine protection for girls and women” as local healthcare officials continue the move towards universal healthcare for all.
“How could we have this discordance in our country in something that is as fundamental as public health, when only the private, well-off girl, have access to a vaccine that can prevent her from getting cancer of the cervix and the one who is unable to afford it, not have the same access? That cannot be right,” Dr Gomez said.
“I am convinced that this will improve the health of women and also decrease the incidence of cancer of the cervix,” Dr Gomez said. “This, we hope, will eventually lead to the elimination of cancer of the cervix.”
Dr Gomez said the opportunity for the introduction of the HPV vaccine came about as a result of his attendance at an international conference at which representatives from the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies and leading healthcare personnel, including many physicians, attended.
