​Rofhiwa Marubini 
The Gauteng Department of Health has called on parents to give their consent by signing forms that allow health officials to vaccinate their children against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). 
The HPV vaccine is administered to girls, nine years and above, in primary schools to help prevent infection and protect against HPV strain 16 and 18 that can cause cervical cancer later in life. 
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in South Africa, after breast cancer.
Due to limited access to prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, cervical cancer is often fatal.
Gauteng Health Spokesperson Kwara Kekana assured parents that the consent forms are meant for the school health programme and not for the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
No pupils will be immunised without having a signed consent form.
"It has been noted that some parents and guardians have not signed or returned the consent forms to school due to fear that they will also be used to administer COVID-19 vaccines on learners," said Kekana.
The HPV second dose campaign started in September and will continue until 29 October 2021. 
As part of the Integrated School Health Programme, the department is rolling the deworming campaign to both boys and girls aged between five and 14 in public schools.
The deworming campaign aims to protect learners from worm infestations and improving their nutritional status.
Furthermore, the department is including eye health screening and oral assessments to the learners as part of the National School Health Week.