By Katalina Siasau.

In Tonga, six to seven cervical cancer deaths are recorded annually, caused by the Human papillomavirus infection (HPV). Awareness and early vaccination can protect girls but, at the moment, only 62% of Tonga's eligible girls are vaccinated.

HPV is highly common and is responsible for over 500 annual deaths among women in the Pacific.

Aiming to protect women and reduce the incidence of cervical cancer, the Ministry of Health held a workshop on 11 November, in Nuku’alofa, to review the national HPV vaccination campaign and share recent findings.

Medical Officer, Reproductive Health, Dr. Losana Vuki, stressed the importance of early vaccination before girls are exposed to the virus. “HPV vaccine works best if it’s given to girls, young girls, and that’s why the target population is 10 to 14 years.”

She said the national HPV cumulative coverage among eligible girls had reached approximately 62%.

After targeted outreach, Tongatapu saw a significant increase, with coverage rising from 36.2% in 2024 to 52.7% in 2025, a gain of 16.5 percentage. 

Awareness-building among parents and caregivers is an important factor contributing to the increased uptake in vaccinations.

Head of the School of Nursing at the University of Tonga, TNU, Dr. Seini Toumoua Fifita, presented findings on "Behavioral and Social Drivers," identifying key factors contributing to advancements in HPV awareness.

The survey, conducted among 398 caregivers across Tongatapu, Vava’u, Ha’apai, 'Eua, and Niuatoputapu, found that 72.6% of respondents were aware of HPV, although knowledge levels varied significantly.

She said the caregivers trust in healthcare providers was notably high at 87.9%, serving as a significant predictor of vaccination uptake. Meanwhile, some expressed concerns about the unknown side effects of vaccination.

The event was attended by over 50 participants, including Ministry leaders, health teams, educators, community leaders, nursing professionals, parents, media representatives, and development partners such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and UNICEF Pacific.

The Ministry of Health acknowledged the funding provided by the Asian Development Bank and technical support from UNICEF Pacific.

About HPV infection

HPV infection is a viral infection. There are more than 100 types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Some types of HPV infection cause skin growths called warts and some types of HPV infection can cause cancer.

Most HPV infections don't lead to cancer. But some types of genital HPV can cause cancer of the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina, called the cervix. Other types of cancers have been linked to HPV infection. These include cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, vulva and back of the throat. Cancer at the back of the throat is called oropharyngeal cancer.

These infections are often passed through sex or through other skin-to-skin contact. Vaccines can help protect against the strains of HPV most likely to cause genital warts or cervical cancer.

An infected mother can pass the virus to her newborn during birth.

A person can pass on the virus even if they have no signs or symptoms.

HPV has a long incubation period, and this means that symptoms, if they appear at all, can develop years after the initial infection.