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APNU urges more public education on HPV vaccine

Apr 13, 2012 News

 

Concerns that girls vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) would not safeguard themselves during sexual intercourse, against other sexually transmitted diseases, owing to inadequate public education about the vaccine, were raised last Tuesday in the National Assembly.
According to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Dr. George Norton, “Lack of proper public education about this vaccine can cause persons to believe that the vaccine protects them from other STDs and they will not use the appropriate protection or get the necessary testing to safeguard themselves.”
Dr. Norton in his presentation said there are serious issues with regards to this vaccine and the vaccination campaign, which was launched on January 10 at East La Penitence Health Centre.
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was introduced to arrest the potential impact of women contracting cervical cancer.
According to Dr. Norton, the Health Ministry should provide the Guyanese public with sufficient information so that they could weigh the risks and benefits associated with the vaccine.
“This must be done, even if it means taking up the offer made by Dr. Chowdhury, Dean of the Greenheart Medical University here in Georgetown, who said he is prepared to work with the Ministry of Health to educate the nation.”
He noted that the Director of Maternal and Child Health had related that from since 2001, the Ministry began information-sharing and discussions with parents and guardians of the targeted schools.
“But the questions are asked.What kind of information has been provided? Has prior and informed consent been sought? When and where were public discussions held?”
The introduction of this vaccine was picketed by a number of women, including a vibrant non-governmental orrganization, to halt the campaign. However, their calls were not heeded.
Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, called the group “a political fringe masquerading as an NGO”.
Dr. Norton enlightened that there are some who believe that the vaccination is unnecessary and could be dangerous to life and are openly opposed to its use in Guyana. It was suggested that the Ministry should promote preventative measures that take into account nutrition and socioeconomic conditions and lifestyles.
However, Dr. Norton’s comments did not go down well with Government’s side of the House.
People’s Progressive Party/Civic Parliamentarian, Dr. Vindya Persaud during her maiden presentation, on Wednesday evening, shot back at Dr. Norton, accusing him of “presenting Guyana with half truths and distortions”.
Dr. Persaud pointed out that as a female and a medical doctor she totally disagrees with Dr. Norton’s standpoint on the HPV vaccine. She confided that she would hate to have to tell her daughter and countless young women in the future “when they reach in their 30s and have cervical cancer, that it happened because this (vaccine) was stopped”.
Dr. Persaud stated that cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death among women in the world and is one of the leading causes of death among women in Guyana.
She argued that if Dr. Norton researches various literature, he would see reputable health entities listing the benefits of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, which Guyana uses to cover four strains of the HPV.
According to Dr. Norton, the money utilised for this ambitious campaign could have been invested in “so many other pressing public health issues such as mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, and domestic violence”.

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