In an effort to reduce the alarming number of women dying of cervical cancer, cabinet has approved that all girls between the ages of 9 to 12 will undergo the Human Papilloma Virus vaccination program.

Cabinet based its decision on a submission by interim Minster for Health, Women and Social Welfare Dr Jiko Luveni, who said for the past decade, cervical cancer had been the most common type of cancer seen in Fiji and accounts for 14% of all female cancer related deaths.

However, President of the Fiji Cancer Society Marilyn Curtis said even with the new vaccination program, women should understand that the vaccine is not a cure for the disease, so therefore women should continue having regular pap smears.