Chongwe District has vaccinated over 7,000 children during the just ended Child Health Week that ran from June 23 to 28, 2025.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Chongwe District Mother and Child Health Officer Mable Namwayi said the district vaccinated 7,057 children below the age of 5 years.

Ms. Namwayi revealed that 957 girls aged 9 to 14years were also given the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine to prevent them from the Cancer disease.

“520 Girls aged 9 years got the HPV and 437 girls aged 10 to 14years were also vaccinated respectively,” She said.

Ms. Namwayi however said some parents have continued to discourage girls from getting the HPV vaccine despite numerous sensitizations.

“Some parents have not welcomed this program, you can find that the girls are willing to get it but the parents will not give consent, most of them are scared that the vaccine can cause the girls not to bear children in future,” She explained.

Ms. Namwayi further stated that 11 children were found with Malnutrition and are now being managed by the health facility.

She called on the school authorities to help with more sensitization on the HPV vaccine to both the parents and girls so that more girls can get the vaccine.

The children were given Vitamin A (Red), Vitamin A (Blue) and deworming among others.