MANILA, Philippines — Ilocos Norte is looking to sustain its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign while strengthening public education and access to cervical cancer screening and treatment.
In a statement issued Monday, the provincial government outlined plans to reach succeeding groups of eligible girls, sustain vaccination activities and allocate local funds for the campaign.
Ilocos Norte recorded 95.7-percent first-dose HPV vaccination coverage among girls aged 9 to 14, reaching 22,039 girls, according to the Department of Health-Ilocos Region. The province was recognized as the first in the country to surpass the 90-percent coverage benchmark during an event last Thursday.
Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos stressed the importance of prevention in local health services.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That is why this means so much to me,” Marcos said during the recognition event.
She also credited local governments, healthcare workers, educators, parents and communities for their contributions.
“This achievement shows what we can accomplish when we work together to improve the health of our people,” Marcos said.