Nouakchott – Mauritania‘s Ministry of Health reports a greater than 90% success rate in preventing breast cancer through ongoing vaccination initiatives, a notable progress for the West African nation[[2]]. The proclamation,made during the launch of expanded HPV and routine childhood vaccination programs,underscores a commitment to preventative healthcare in a country where cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women[[1]]. These efforts aim to safeguard the health of future generations and alleviate the strain on Mauritania’s healthcare resources[[3]].
Mauritania’s Ministry of Health announced that vaccination efforts are proving highly effective in preventing breast cancer, with a success rate exceeding 90%. This news comes as the country continues to expand its preventative healthcare initiatives.
The information was revealed Monday evening in Nouakchott by El Alia Yahya Menkouss, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, during the launch of the second week of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign and the third week of a catch-up vaccination program nationwide.
“Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the country after breast cancer,” Menkouss stated, adding that “prevention is effective in more than 90% of cases thanks to vaccination.” Preventative vaccination programs are a key strategy in reducing the burden of these cancers on the Mauritanian healthcare system.
Mauritania has adopted an ambitious national vaccination plan targeting girls as young as 9 years old, aligning with recommendations from the World Health Organization to protect women’s health in the long term. This proactive approach aims to significantly reduce future cancer rates.
According to Menkouss, the expanded program has vaccinated 51,163 girls as of the end of November, achieving 79% of the annual goal. The health sector is now working to reach an additional 64,836 girls during the second national vaccination week.
Addressing vaccination coverage for younger children, the Secretary General noted that data from the expanded vaccination program indicates a significant number of 5-year-olds have received no vaccine doses, and others have not completed their vaccination schedules. This highlights the need to accelerate efforts to maintain community immunity.
Recent data shows 110,385 children have not received any vaccine doses, and 39,843 children have incomplete vaccinations. The current campaign aims to reach 41,581 children with missing doses and identify an additional 73,911 who have yet to be vaccinated. Ensuring high vaccination rates is crucial for protecting vulnerable populations from preventable diseases.
