Gauteng Health Dept to roll out Human Papillomavirus Vaccination campaign in public schools

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng Department of Health is set to roll out its Human Papillomavirus Vaccination (HPV) drive in public schools.

According to the HPV information centre, more than 10,000 women in South Africa are currently diagnosed with cervical cancer. 

Provincial health authorities said they wanted to create awareness around HPV and to limit its potential to spread cancer.

In South Africa, cervical cancer is the second most common of its kind among women.

According to the National Health Department, the country has one of the highest global rates of people diagnosed with cervical cancer. Some 660,000 new cases are reported across the world every year, with more than 300,000 deaths

Gauteng health spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, said HPV is preventable.

"HPV is a common virus that can infect both males and females and causes cervical cancer in women later in life. It is transferred primarily by skin-to-skin contact through sexual intercourse and contact in the genital region."

Modiba said their Cervarix HPV vaccine can stave off an HPV infection, and protect from the dangers of cervical cancer.

The department will roll out its HPV drive at public primary and special schools from 3 February to 31 March and at private primary schools from August to September 2025.