REGION 10 is intensifying efforts to ensure children and adolescents receive essential immunizations while expanding coverage of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The region is home to over 50,000 residents, and is served by three hospitals, the Linden Hospital Complex, the Kwakwani Hospital, and the Wismar Hospital, as well as 15 health centres and 15 health posts.
The initiatives to strengthen the immunization programmes were outlined by Kerene Mitchell, Senior Health Visitor (ag.) who said that their plan includes a vaccine mop-up campaign targeting children aged 18 months and 3 years 9 months, focusing on increasing coverage in areas with low uptake.
The campaign will immunize all defaulters and eligible children, and health teams will work closely with the Regional Health Office to compile defaulter lists, contact parents and guardians, and conduct home and school visits. Facilities will open during evenings to accommodate working parents, while biographic and immunization data for all eligible children will be recorded centrally and monitored to track coverage and drop-out rates. These initiatives were planned and shared during a telephone interview following the Region 10 2025 Review and Leadership Meeting where officials from the Ministry of Health, including Director-General Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, the Regional Administration and Health Leaders of Region 10 met last week to discuss challenges faced by the health sector in the region, and to determine the solutions to those challenges.
Ms. Mitchell added that the region is also expanding its HPV vaccination programme to prevent cervical cancer, the second leading cause of death among women in Guyana. The HPV vaccine is being administered specifically to girls aged nine to sixteen, protecting against the high-risk virus types that can lead to cervical cancer. In 2025, Region 10 administered over 600 HPV doses to girls, achieving approximately 20 per cent coverage overall. Coverage varied by age, with nine-year-olds reaching 50 per cent, while older adolescents had lower coverage, including only 11 per cent for 15-year-olds, and 14 per cent for 16-year-olds.
The 2026 HPV vaccination plan aims to reach 95 per cent of eligible girls. Ms. Mitchell said their plan includes organizing vaccination teams in all health centres to conduct school and community campaigns, providing house-to-house vaccinations, administering the vaccine during medical outreaches to hinterland and riverine areas, and offering evening and weekend clinic sessions to improve access. Health staff will receive training to provide accurate information about cervical cancer and HPV, address questions, and counter myths about the vaccine. Public awareness campaigns will involve flyers, posters, radio, social media platforms, and community engagement with teachers, parents, youth leaders, religious leaders, and local influencers. Coverage will be monitored throughout the year, with targeted interventions for areas with large catchment populations and low uptake.
These initiatives underscore Region 10’s commitment to educating communities, increasing vaccine coverage, and protecting children and adolescents from preventable diseases. By combining routine childhood immunizations with an expanded HPV program for girls, the region aims to reduce the risk of cervical cancer and safeguard the health of future generations.
