61,374 girls in Timor-Leste to receive HPV vaccine to combat cervical cancer

With support from partners, the vaccine will help protect girls and women against cervical cancer: a common yet preventable disease

Dili, Friday - 19 July 2024 - The Government of Timor-Leste, with support from the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), the Australian Government, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO), marked the launch of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunization program, to support the prevention of cervical cancer among women and girls.

The launch event precedes a two-week-long national rollout campaign, which will start on 8 August and aims to vaccinate 15,000 girls aged 11 years with the HPV vaccine. The vaccine will then be incorporated in routine immunization schedules within health facilities. The vaccine is available to eligible girls at no cost.  

“The Ministry of Health is proud to introduce the HPV vaccine into the routine immunization programme in Timor-Leste. This is one of the significant milestones in the history of the immunization programme in the country. This also shows the commitment of the Ministry of Health commitment joining the global effort in elimination of the cervical cancer. The Ministry of Health would like to appreciate all the donors and development partners such as GAVI, DFAT, UNICEF, WHO and World Bank in supporting the Ministry of Health in this initiative”, said HE Mr. Jose dos Reis Magno, Vice Minister of Health for Institutional Strengthening of Health and Acting Minister of Health. 

According to WHO statistics, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally with around 660 000 new cases and around 350 000 deaths in 2022.  The highest rates of cervical cancer are in low- and middle-income countries, and in Timor-Leste it is the second most common cancer amongst women.

With support from Gavi, 41,100 doses of the HPV vaccine are already available for the introductory phase of the vaccine rollout. An additional 38,370 doses have been sourced with support from the Australian Government and will be used for the HPV catch up campaign targeting girls aged 12-14 year over the next six months. Support from partners has also helped in the training of health officials, who have been equipped to provide high-quality services and correct information about the HPV vaccine to the targeted population.  Health officials have undergone extensive training, and orientation sessions on how to administer the vaccine, and how to appropriately store it to retain its efficacy.  

To complement the introduction of this new vaccine, the Ministry of Health will drive intensive community level and media awareness sessions to raise public awareness about the HPV vaccine and to increase uptake. A wide range of communication materials have also been developed to ensure that people receive correct and scientifically proven information about this new vaccine.

“Cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern in Timor-Leste, and it disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable communities across the world. The introduction of the HPV vaccine is a critical step towards protecting thousands of girls, now and in the years to come,” said Thabani Maphosa, Managing Director of Country Programmes Delivery at Gavi. “Alongside the Governments of Timor-Leste and Australia, Gavi is committed to building a healthier future for young women across the country, free from the threat of this terrible disease.”

Single dose HPV vaccination offers solid protection against cervical cancer and is safe and effective-assured Dr Arvind Mathur, WHO Representative.  He mentioned that the introduction of the HPV vaccine is significant milestone not only in the journey of Immunization program in Timor Leste but also to their commitment for preventing cervical cancer.  Well informed and trained health workforce in administering vaccine is key to increase the uptake of vaccine as WHO teams extensively trained health care providers at all levels and have engaged with schoolteachers for informational sessions at schools and communities. 

“The good news is that cervical cancer is a preventable disease.  The other good news is that women and girls in Timor-Leste now have a good chance to be protected from this disease, thanks to the introduction HPV vaccine in the country.  To make the HPV rollout successful, strong synergies with various ministries and communities must be formed to ensure full access to eligible girls, especially those who are geographically furthest from services,” said UNICEF Representative, Patrizia DiGiovanni.  

With today’s launch, Timor-Leste joins 120 other countries, including Bangladesh and Indonesia in the region, who have introduced the HPV vaccine into routine immunization programs as a key strategy to prevent mortality and morbidity. The HPV vaccine is safe and highly effective: for example, since Scotland began its HPV vaccination programme in 2008, the country has had zero cases of cervical cancer in fully vaccinated young women.

In Norway, similar efforts have led to no cervical cancer cases in women under 25. While these examples show what is possible, HPV vaccine coverage in countries where most cases and deaths occur continues to be extremely low. However, this is slowly changing thanks to efforts from countries like Timor-Leste. 

Vaccinating girls at an early age, reduces their risk of developing cervical cancer by nearly 90 per cent and in turn reduces the burden of non-communicable diseases on the country’s health system. It also provides a unique opportunity to invest in the health of women and the future of girls.

With support from key donors, including Australia, GAVI the Vaccine Alliance – a partnership that includes countries, WHO and UNICEF – has set an ambitious goal to reach over 86 million girls across the world with the HPV vaccine by 2025, aiming to avert over 1.4 million future deaths from cervical cancer. An additional 1.5 million lives in lower-income countries could be saved by 2030 through HPV vaccination, should the Vaccine Alliance secure necessary support and funding.

Australia has been working together with Ministry of Health and implementing partners including UNICEF, WHO and World Vision to strengthen the vaccination system in Timor-Leste. The support provided for the HPV vaccine procurement and operational costs, will enable the country to reach the targeted eligible girls, including girls who are out-of-school and girls with disability to ensure no one is left behind.

Australia remains committed to supporting the priorities of the IX Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste to expand the reach and the quality of primary health care services.

“We celebrate the expansion of the vaccine program to include the introduction of the Human Papilloma Vaccine (HPV) - for girls aged between 11-14.  By vaccinating girls early, we can significantly reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer later in life”, said Australian Ambassador, Caitlin Wilson.

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For more information, please contact: 
• Ministry of Health media contact person 
• Cirũ Kariũki, Gavi, the vaccine alliance, Mobile number +41 79 913 94 41; Email address -  [email protected]  
• Tapuwa Mutseyekwa, UNICEF Advocacy and Communication Specialist, Mobile number - +670 77231103; Email Address – [email protected] 
• Antonio Gomes, UNICEF Communications Officer, Mobile number - +670 77232441; Email address - [email protected] 
• Cirilo Ovilla F. Danis Xavier, WHO Communication Officer, Mobile number - +67077086831, Email Address - [email protected] 
• Esperanca Lopes, Australian Embassy Media contact, Mobile number +670 77546571, email address - [email protected]

About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate more than half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. View the full list of donor governments and other leading organisations that fund Gavi’s work here.

Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped to immunise a whole generation – over 1 billion children – and prevented more than 17.3 million future deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 78 lower-income countries. Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningococcal and yellow fever vaccines. After two decades of progress, Gavi is now focused on protecting the next generation, above all the zero-dose children who have not received even a single vaccine shot. The Vaccine Alliance employs innovative finance and the latest technology – from drones to biometrics – to save lives, prevent outbreaks before they can spread and help countries on the road to self-sufficiency. Learn more at www.gavi.org and connect with us on Facebook and X (Twitter).

Factsheets:
• Cervical cancer Factsheet – WHO 
• Everything you need to know about the HPV vaccine – Gavi

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Tetun:

Labarik feto sira 61,374 iha Timor-Leste sei simu vasina HPV hodi prevene  kankru servís

Timor-Leste lansa vasina HPV ba labarik feto ho idade tinan 11- 14

Ho apoiu husi parseiru, vasina ne’e sei proteje labarik feto no inan sira husi kankru servís: moras 

Dili, Sexta-feira - 19 Jullu 2024 - Governu Timor-Leste, ho apoiu hosi Aliansa Vasina (Gavi), Governu Austrália, Fundu Nasoins Unidas ba Labarik (UNICEF) no Organizasaun Mundiál Saúde (OMS), marka lansamentu hosi vasina Virus Papiloma Umanu (HPV) iha ninia rutina programa imunizasaun, hodi suporta prevensaun kankru serviks entre feto no labarik feto sira.

Eventu lansamentu ne'e antesede kampaña lansamentu nasionál ida ho durasaun semana rua, ne'ebé sei hahú iha loron 8 fulan-Agostu no ho objetivu atu fó vasinasaun ba labarik-feto 15,000 ho idade tinan 11 ho vasina HPV. Vasina ne'e sei inkorpora iha oráriu rutina imunizasaun nian iha fasilidade saúde sira nia laran. Vasina ne'e disponivel ba labarik-feto sira ne'ebé elizivel lahó kustu.

“Ministerio da Saúde orgullu atu introduz vasina HPV ba iha programa imunizasaun rutina iha Timor-Leste. Ida ne’e konsidera hanesan atinjimentu signifikativu ida iha istoria programa imunizasaun nian iha Timor-Leste. Ida ne’e mos hatudu Ministério da Saúde nia kompromisiu konjunta ba iha esforsu global ba eliminasaun kankru servís. Ministério da Saúde hakarak fó apresiasaun ba doador no parseiru dezenvolvementu hotu hanesan GAVI, DFAT, UNICEF, OMS no World Bank ne’ebé suporta ona Ministério da Saúde iha inisiativa ida ne’e.”, Dehan SE Sr. Jose dos Reis Magno, Vice Ministro da Saúde ba Asuntu Fortalesimentu Institusional de Saúde no Ministra da Saúde Interinu.

Bazeia ba estatistika OMS, iha tinan 2022 kankru servís mak kankru daha’at ne’ebé komún liu iha feto sira globalmente ho kazu foun hamutuk kuaze 660,000 no mate hamutuk kuaze 350,000. Taxa kankru servís a’as liu akontese iha paíz ho rendimentu baixu no médiu, no iha Timor-Leste, kankru servís mak kankru daruak komún liu iha feto sira.

Ho apoiu husi GAVI, doze vasina HPV 41,000 disponivel tiha ona ba faze introdusaun vasina ne’e. Doze adisional 38,370 konfirmadu ona no sei hetan apoiu husi Governu Australia no sei uza ba kampaña vasina HPV ho ninia alvu mak labarik feto ho idade tinan 12 – 14 durante fulan 6 nia laran. Parseiru sira nia apoiu iha kapasitasaun pesoál saúde, ne’ebé mak ekipadu ona atu fornese servisu ho kualidade a’as no informasaun los kona-ba vasina HPV ba populasaun alvu. Pesoál saúde hetan ona treinamentu no orientasaun kona-ba oinsa atu fo vasina no oinsa atu rai vasina ne’e hodi nune’e nafatin mantein vasina nia efikasia. 

Atu komplementa introdusaun vasina foun ida-ne'e, Ministériu da Saúde sei hala'o sesaun sensibilizasaun intensivu iha nivel komunidade no mídia nian hodi hasa'e konxiénsia públiku kona-ba vasina HPV no atu hasa'e asesu. Materiál komunikasaun oioin mós dezenvolve ona atu asegura katak ema simu informasaun ne'ebé loos no sientífikamente provadu kona-ba vasina foun ida-ne'e.

“Kankru servís sai nafatin preokupasaun saúde públika ne’ebé signifikativu iha Timor-Leste, no ida-ne’e fó impaktu desproporsionál ba komunidade ne’ebé vulneravel liu iha mundu tomak. Introdusaun vasina HPV konsidera hanesan pasu krítiku ida hodi proteje labarik-feto rihun ba rihun, agora no iha tinan sira tuir mai,” dehan Thabani Maphosa, Managing Director of Country Programmes Delivery Gavi. “Hamutuk ho Governu Timor-Leste no Austrália, Gavi iha kompromisu atu harii futuru ida ne’ebé saudável liu ba labarik feto sira iha nasaun tomak, livre husi ameasa moras aat ida ne’e.”

Vasinasaun HPV ho doze úniku oferese protesaun sólidu kontra kankru servís no vasina ne’e seguru no efetivu-aseguradu Dr Arvind Mathur, Reprezentante OMS. Nia mensiona katak introdusaun vasina HPV hanesan atinjimentu signifikativu laos deit iha jornada programa Imunizasaun iha Timor Leste maibe mos ba sira nia komitmentu ba prevensaun kankru servís. Pesoal saúde ne'ebé informadu no treinadu ho di'ak kona-ba administrasaun vasina maka xave atu aumenta kobertura vasina tanba ekipa WHO nian fó ona formasaun kle'an ba fornesedór kuidadu saúde iha nivel hotu-hotu no servisu hamutuk ho profesór sira ba sesaun informasaun sira iha eskola no komunidade.

“Notísia di'ak maka kankru servís sai hanesan moras ida ne'ebé bele prevene. Notísia di'ak seluk maka feto no labarik-feto sira iha Timor-Leste agora iha oportunidade di'ak atu hetan protesaun husi moras ida-ne'e, obrigadu ba introdusaun vasina HPV iha rai-laran. Atu halo lansamentu HPV sai susesu, tenke forma sinerjia forte ho ministériu oioin no komunidade sira hodi garante labarik feto sira ne’ebé elijivel hetan asesu masimu, liuliu sira ne'ebé jeografikamente dook liu husi asistensia saúde,” dehan Reprezentante UNICEF, Patrizia DiGiovanni.

Ho lansamentu ohin loron, Timor -Leste hola parte husi nasaun 120 inklui Bangladesh no Indonesia iha rejiaun ida ne’e, ne’ebé introduz ona vasina HPV ba iha programa vasina rutina ne’ebé konsidera hanesan estrategia xave atu prevene mortalidade no morbilidade. Vasina HPV ne’e seguru no efetivu tebes, por ezemplu Nasaun Scotlandia ne’ebé  hahu program vasina HPV iha 2008,  nasaun nee agora hetan kazu zero ba kankru servís iha feto ne’ebé mak hetan tiha ona vasina kompletu. 

Iha Noruega, esforsu hanesan rezulta kazu zero ba kankru servís iha feto sira ho idade menus hosi 25. Enkuantu ezemplu sira-ne'e hatudu saida maka posivel, nasaun ho kobertura vasina HPV ne’ebé ki’ik, dala barak kontinua hetan numeru kazu a’as no mate barak liu. Maske nune’e, situasaun ida ne’e sei muda neineik tanba esforsu husi nasaun sira hanesan Timor-Leste.
Vasina labarik-feto sira iha idade ki'ik, hamenus sira nia risku atu dezenvolve kankru servikál besik pursentu 90 no ida ne’e fo impaktu hamenus kazu ka moras la hada'et iha sistema saúde nasaun nian. Ida-ne'e mós fó oportunidade úniku ida atu investe iha saúde feto no labarik-feto sira-nia futuru.

Ho apoiu hosi doadór xave sira, inklui Austrália, GAVI Aliansa Vasina nian – parseria ho nasaun sira, WHO no UNICEF – estabelese ona objetivu ambisiozu ida atu alkansa labarik-feto liu millaun 86 iha mundu tomak ho vasina HPV to'o 2025, ho objetivu atu evita liu husi 1.4 millaun mate iha futuru tanba kankru servís. Vida millaun 1.5 adisionál iha nasaun sira ho rendimentu ki'ik bele salva iha 2030 liuhosi vasinasaun HPV, karik Aliansa Vasina garante apoiu no finansiamentu nesesáriu.
Austrália durante ne’e servisu hamutuk ho Ministériu Saúde no parseiru implementador sira inklui UNICEF, WHO no World Vision hodi haforsa sistema vasinasaun iha Timor-Leste. Apoiu ne’ebé fornese ba aprovizionamentu vasina HPV no kustu operasionál sira, sei permite nasaun atu alkansa labarik-feto sira ne’ebé elizivel, inklui labarik-feto sira ne’ebé la eskola no labarik-feto sira ho defisiénsia atu asegura katak laiha ema ida mak hela iha kotuk.

Austrália iha nafatin kompromisu atu fó apoiu ba prioridade sira husi IX Governu Konstitusionál Timor-Leste atu habelar atinjimentu no kualidade kuidadu saúde primáriu.

“Ita selebra espansaun programa vasina ne’e hodi inklui introdusaun Vasina Virus Papiloma Umana (HPV) - ba labarik-feto sira ho idade entre 11-14. Bainhira vasina labarik-feto sira sedu, ita sei hamenus sira nia risku signifikativu atu dezenvolve ba kankru servís iha tempu tuirmai”, tenik Embaixadór Austrália, Caitlin Wilson.

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Ba Informasaun detallu, favor kontaktu: 
• Pontu Fokal Mídia Ministériu da Saúde
• Cirũ Kariũki, Gavi, the vaccine alliance, Numeru Kontaktu +41 79 913 94 41; Email -  [email protected]   
• Tapuwa Mutseyekwa, UNICEF Advocacy and Communication Specialist, Numeru kontaktu - +670 77231103; Email – [email protected] 
• Antonio Gomes, UNICEF Communications Officer, Mobile number - +670 77232441; Email address - [email protected] 
• Cirilo Ovilla F. Danis Xavier, WHO Communication Officer, Mobile number - +67077086831, Email Address - [email protected] 
• Esperanca Lopes, Australian Embassy Media contact, Mobile number +670 77546571, email address - [email protected]

Kona-ba Gavi, Aliansa Vasina nian
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance maka parseria públiku-privadu ida ne'ebé ajuda vasina numeru labarik sira liu metade iha mundu hodi kontra moras sira ne'ebé maka dalabark liu hamate labarik sira iha mundu. The Vaccine Alliance halibur hamutuk nasaun sira ne'ebé sei dezenvolve-an hela no governu doadór sira, WHO, UNICEF, Banku Mundiál, fabrika vasina, ajénsia téknikú, sosiedade sivíl, Fundasaun Bill & Melinda Gates no parseiru sira seluk hosi setór privadu. Haree lista kompletu hosi governu doadór sira no organizasaun prinsipál sira seluk ne'ebé finansia Gavi’s iha ne’e.

Desde hari’i iha tinan 2000, Gavi ajuda ona atu imuniza jerasaun tomak – labarik biliaun 1 resin – no prevene mate iha futuru liu millaun 17.3, hodi ajuda hamenus mortalidade labarik nian ba metade iha nasaun 78 ho rendimentu ki'ik. Gavi mós hala'o papél xave ida hodi hadi'a seguransa saúde globál liuhusi apoia sistema saúde sira no mós finansia estoke globál ba vasina sira hanesan vasina Ébola, vasina kólera, vasina meningococcal, no vasina yellow fever. Hafoin progresu durante dékada rua nian, Gavi agora foka ba protesaun jerasaun tuirmai, liuliu labarik sira ho doze zero ne'ebé seidauk simu nein vasina ida. The Vaccine Alliance utiliza finansa inovativu no teknolojia ikus liu – husi drone to'o biométriku – hodi salva moris, prevene surtu molok hada'et no ajuda nasaun sira iha prosesu ba auto-sufisiénsia. Hakarak hatene liután bele vizita www.gavi.org no liga ho ami iha Facebook no X (Twitter).

Factsheets:
• Cervical cancer Factsheet – WHO 
• Everything you need to know about the HPV vaccine – Gavi