WATCH: This nurse wants to stop cervical cancer in Hammanskraal
Nurse Tebogo Seleka does about 100 cervical cancer tests a month. One in 10 patients test positive. This could be avoided if they were vaccinated against HPV
14 September 2023 - 07:00
byMohale Moloi and Yolanda Mdzeke
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Between March and September 2019 Tshwane health workers tried to vaccinate 22,000 grade 4 girls with two shots of an anti-cervical cancer vaccine. But they missed their target and only got to 15,000.
Now things have worsened. Research shows that parents are increasingly reluctantto sign consent forms for their daughters to be vaccinated after Covid. But sister Tebogo Seleka wants to win them over.
She talks to every mom about a human papillomavirus (HPV) shot that will stop their girls from getting cervical cancer when they’re older. Certain types of HPV cause cancer of the cervix. The Bhekisisa TV team takes you to Hammanskraal to meet Seleka.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
WATCH: This nurse wants to stop cervical cancer in Hammanskraal
Nurse Tebogo Seleka does about 100 cervical cancer tests a month. One in 10 patients test positive. This could be avoided if they were vaccinated against HPV
Between March and September 2019 Tshwane health workers tried to vaccinate 22,000 grade 4 girls with two shots of an anti-cervical cancer vaccine. But they missed their target and only got to 15,000.
Now things have worsened. Research shows that parents are increasingly reluctant to sign consent forms for their daughters to be vaccinated after Covid. But sister Tebogo Seleka wants to win them over.
She talks to every mom about a human papillomavirus (HPV) shot that will stop their girls from getting cervical cancer when they’re older. Certain types of HPV cause cancer of the cervix. The Bhekisisa TV team takes you to Hammanskraal to meet Seleka.
This story was produced by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. Sign up for the newsletter.
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