Cestos City, Rivercess County – The Rivercess County Health Team has held a one-day county-level advocacy meeting with key stakeholders aimed at strengthening the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), enhancing Mass Drug Administration (MDA) efforts, and promoting the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign.
Speaking at the gathering, Rivercess County Health Officer, Dr. Dyujay G. Karnga, described the initiative as a vital step toward improving the overall health status of people in the county. He urged local leaders, health workers, and community members to attach greater seriousness to health programs being implemented in Rivercess.
“It’s a very good idea and something positive we can all tap into to improve the health status of our people,” Dr. Karnga said. “As important as these different activities are, we need to continue taking them seriously to ensure more progress is made.”
Dr. Karnga emphasized the critical role of vaccines, noting that they remain one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. He explained that vaccines help prevent illnesses that would otherwise require expensive and limited treatment options.
Turning his attention to cervical cancer prevention, Dr. Karnga stressed that the HPV vaccine offers an opportunity to protect young girls from one of the most deadly diseases affecting women globally.
“From a medical standpoint, prevention is far better than cure,” he said. “Cervical cancer remains a major challenge because once it develops fully, treatment becomes difficult, especially in Liberia where we lack radiation facilities.”
He lamented that myths and misconceptions about the HPV vaccine have contributed to low uptake in many communities. Some people, he noted, wrongly believe that the vaccine either promotes fertility or serves as a form of family planning.
“The HPV vaccine is not meant to make you have more children, nor is it birth control,” Dr. Karnga clarified. “It’s designed purely to prevent cervical cancer. That’s why every parent should encourage their daughters to take it.”
Dr. Karnga further explained that once cervical cancer reaches an advanced stage, survival becomes minimal due to the absence of comprehensive treatment options in the country.
“In Liberia, we don’t have radiation therapy, and most people can’t afford to travel abroad for complete treatment,” he said. “That’s why prevention through vaccination remains the cheapest and safest option for our women and girls.”
He also appealed to male participants to take an active role in encouraging vaccination, stressing that in most Liberian homes, fathers are the key decision-makers.
“I’m glad to see many men here today because when fathers understand the importance of the HPV vaccine, they can influence their families to take it seriously,” he added.
The meeting brought together health workers, local leaders, and representatives from community-based organizations, all of whom pledged to help spread awareness about the NTDs, MDA, and HPV campaigns across Rivercess County.
The HPV vaccine targets girls between the ages of 9 and 14 and provides strong protection against the virus that causes cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of death among women in Liberia.
