The possibility to include the HPV vaccine in the national vaccination calendar, took centre stage at a meeting held on Friday between Health Minister Ali Mrabet and experts from the regional coalition for HPV elimination and the Merck and Co for the development of medicines and vaccines.

Emphasis was laid during the meeting on the importance of including the HPV vaccine into the national cancer control programme as the HPV causes cervical cancer.

The experts are in Tunisia to review cooperation in this field between the Health Ministry and the Merck and Co, reads a ministry press release.

Mrabet underlined on the occasion, the importance of the multi-partite and multi-sectoral cooperation in combating cancer diseases and preventing risk factors.

He further pointed to the need of increasing public awareness about the importance of early detection of these diseases, and using vaccines to ensure prevention.

Mrabet recalled in this regard, Tunisia’s experience in the vaccination field which has helped it eliminate many infectious diseases, indicating that the department will endeavour to build the health professionals’ capacities by devising operational plans as soon as possible.

For their part, the experts affirmed support to the Tunisian anti-cancer programmes, commending Tunisia’s successful vaccination experience.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse