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 the human papillomavirus which causes this cancer. Our TV team travels to Hammanskraal near Tshwane to find out how Seleka is using jabs to stop cervical cancer in her community.
Between March and September 2019, Tshwane health workers tried to vaccinate 22,000 grade four girls with two shots of an anti-cervical cancer vaccine. But they missed their target and only reached 15,000 of the young girls.
Now things have worsened. Research shows that parents are increasingly reluctant to sign consent forms for their daughters to be vaccinated after the Covid-19 pandemic. 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 the human papillomavirus cause cancer of the cervix.
WATCH | Bhekisisa: 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 the human papillomavirus which causes this cancer. Our TV team travels to Hammanskraal near Tshwane to find out how Seleka is using jabs to stop cervical cancer in her community.
Between March and September 2019, Tshwane health workers tried to vaccinate 22,000 grade four girls with two shots of an anti-cervical cancer vaccine. But they missed their target and only reached 15,000 of the young girls.
Now things have worsened. Research shows that parents are increasingly reluctant to sign consent forms for their daughters to be vaccinated after the Covid-19 pandemic. 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 the human papillomavirus cause cancer of the cervix.
This story was produced by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. Sign up for the newsletter.
WATCH MORE:
WATCH | Bhekisisa: Why do more black women get cervical cancer than any other race in the country?
WATCH | Bhekisisa: Treating sex workers badly could spread HIV
WATCH | Bhekisisa: Why your toilet water is turned into drinking water — and which provinces get this right
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most read
Latest Videos