Bangkok--28 Aug--Spark Communications
The Rotary Club of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi in collaboration with 14 Rotary Clubs, the Thai Gynecologic Cancer Society and 22 Public Health Centers have organized a project to provide information about HPV infections such as cervical cancer and condyloma acuminate. Additionally, the club provides HPV vaccines to prevent four HPV types for 350 girls between 9 – 12 years old at schools in Prawet district including Suwitsereeanusorn School and Klong Puklug School. The project started on 21 August 2014, and the second phase of the vaccination program will be given to all participating schools in February 2015.
The vaccine effectively prevents HPV infection which can lead to cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, anal cancer and condyloma acuminata. Moreover, the National Immunization Vaccination Program has been launched in many countries, including the US, European countries, Malaysia and Thailand.
The Rotary Club of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi is committed to supporting communities. Lieutenant Dr. Saisawat Rojanaprasertkij, Past President of the Rotary Club of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, said the club has been supported by 14 Rotary Clubs and Rotary International. HPV commonly causes severe cancers such as cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, anal cancer and condyloma acuminate, which result in physical and mental issues for patients and cause significant impact on the finances for sufferers. Therefore, vision of choosing the most protection vaccination with more type coverage is the most effective way to prevent the diseases in young people and reduce the cost of treatment.
HPV-16 and HPV-18 cause Cervical Cancer which is the most common sexually transmitted infection in Thailand. Each year 24.7 women in every 100,000 contract cervical cancer, and about 14 women infected with cervical cancer die each day. According to the study, curing for Cervical Cancer costs from 1,000 – 1 million baht depending on the severity of the disease.
Condyloma acuminata is caused by HPV-6 and HPV11, and according to Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 480 women in every 100,000 contract Condyloma Acuminata. Curing condyloma acuminata costs from 1,000 – 10,000 baht. As it is a recurring disease patients face other expenses including travel costs and loss of earnings.
Supreeda Laempaisan, President of the Rotary Club of Bangkok Suvanabhumi, and Yod Saengsawangwattana, Project President of the Rotary Club of Bangkok Suvanabhumi, said that HPV vaccine is useful for young girls because an Australian study between 2007 – 2011 showed that through treating women under 21 years old, there was a 60% decrease in condyloma acuminata infection. In addition, treating women below 18 years of age resulted in a 47.5% in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) within three years.
In conclusion, HPV vaccination is one of main strategies to protect women around the world against cervical cancer, along with providing knowledge of HPV and having cervical cancer screening.