KOTA KINABALU, Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) is working closely with the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) to ensure 100,000 deserving girls across the country receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Its chief executive officer, Mark O'Dell said the programme, which is part of LIAM's corporate social responsibility (CSR), will provide essential HPV vaccination to girls in the underprivileged, rural and vulnerable communities in Malaysia. He said the vaccination is vital in preventing HPV and HPV-related cancers especially cervical cancer, and LIAM, as part of the company's 50th anniversary, is contributing RM3 million to NCSM from the collective contribution of 14 life insurance companies and two reinsurance companies in the association. 'It (NCSM) received free doses (HPV vaccines) from the manufacturer but money is needed to reach this group of 13- to 20-year-old girls. So we are going to find these girls and vaccinate them. This vaccine is very effective...90 per ce nt very effective against cervical cancer,' he told Bernama. The 'Leaving No One Behind - HPV Vaccination Programme' focuses on engaging, educating, and vaccinating girls in 162 districts in 13 states and three federal territories, while using a comprehensive approach encompassing health communication, behavioural change intervention and efficient health services. O'Dell said LIAM is also working with the ROSE Foundation, a Malaysian non-governmental organisaiton (NGO), giving them a donation of RM650,000 to carry out tests on women between the ages of 30 and 60 for the virus that causes cervical cancer, thus eliminating the virus in the early stage. Source: BERNAMA News Agency