Pattaya will provide free vaccinations against the main cause of cervical cancer to schoolgirls starting in the new term.
At an April 11 meeting on disease prevention with the Workers Health Network, Mayor Anan Charoenchasri said girls as young as fifth grade will be given the series of shots needed over six months to prevent Human papillomavirus infections.
Nearly all cervical cancer is due to HPV with two types, HPV16 and HPV18, accounting for 70 percent of cases. Between 60-90 percent of other cancers also are linked to HPV.
Anan said cervical cancer kills 5,000 Thai women a year and 10,000 new cases are reported.
At the meeting, the mayor also directed the Department of Decease Prevention and Control and the Department of Public Health to organize new events to campaign for condom use and raise awareness of AIDS and HIV.
The order comes following a successful event on Valentine’s Day at the Grand Hall Market in South Pattaya.
