The HPV Demo Programme Aims to Vaccinate 14,434 Girls

Ethiopia plans to introduce the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) in two selected districts, Gomma and Ahiferom in Oromia region  and Tigray region respectively. WHO with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) organized an orientation workshop on 22-23 June in Addis Ababa to prepare for the introduction of the new vaccine. Participants from FMoH, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), UNICEF, Regional Health Bureaus from the pilot regions, Path as well as Jimma and Mekele Universities took part in the workshop.

Mrs Liya Wondwossen, EPI coordinator at FMoH, said at the opening that the pilot programme aims to vaccinate a total of 14,434 girls over two years. She added that Ethiopia will draw from its previous experiences in introducing new vaccines to successfully implement this HPV demonstration project.

The vaccine will be delivered to school and health centres between 2015 and 2017 targeting 9 to 13 years old girls. The evaluation on the introduction of HPV will be conducted in collaboration with Jimma and Mekele Universities. The HPV vaccine will be introduced at national level after the demo project and its evaluation have been completed.

For more information, please contact  

Fiona Braka,
Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health and Nutrition
Email:   %20brakaf [at] who.inttarget="_blank"
Tel: (+251) 911 200 765

Loza Mesfin Tesfaye
Communications Officer
Email:   tesfayel [at] who.int
Tel: (+251)911 144 194