ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan is set to start its first-ever national cervical cancer vaccination campaign.
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign is reportedly set to begin from 15 to 27 September across various regions, including Punjab, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, and Islamabad.
This drive will provide the vaccination to girls aged from 9 to 14 in both public and private schools, and the registration has begun for the vaccine drive.
Voice recordings explaining the advantages and safety of the HPV vaccine will be distributed to parents in an effort to increase awareness.
The girls will be vaccinated through designated community centres and vaccination sites, along with the mobile unit for broad access.
Additionally, staff from the health department are going to administer the vaccination in schools.
One dose of the HPV vaccination, which is known to dramatically lower the risk of cervical cancer, will be given to each eligible girl.
According to an HPV Information Center factsheet, 73.8 million women in Pakistan who are 15 years of age or older are at risk of acquiring cervical cancer.
The second most common type of cancer in women aged 15 to 44 is cervical cancer. However, females would be permanently immune with a single dose of the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination.
The program, which aims to shield upcoming generations of women from a potentially fatal but avoidable disease, represents a significant turning point in Pakistan’s public health initiatives.
