PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has decided to launch a province-wide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign in November this year to protect young girls from cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide.
The campaign will provide the HPV vaccine free of cost to all eligible girls aged between 9 and 14 years.
In this regard, the health officials said that around 1.6 million girls will receive the vaccine through schools and educational institutions, while nearly 1.3 million out-of-school girls will be vaccinated through community-based outreach programs.
The campaign has been designed to ensure that eligible girls are reached regardless of their educational status.
The provincial government has established a high-level steering committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary of Health. The committee will oversee planning, coordination, security arrangements, and compliance with existing health regulations throughout the vaccination campaign.
Cervical cancer develops in the cells of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus, and is primarily caused by persistent infection with certain types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
The Director General Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has urged parents, teachers, and community leaders to cooperate with health authorities by ensuring that eligible girls receive the vaccine on time.
The cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally. Each year, more than 660,000 women are diagnosed with the disease, while approximately 350,000 lose their lives due to cervical cancer.
Pakistan also continues to face a significant burden of the disease, with thousands of women diagnosed annually.
Several public figures have helped raise awareness about HPV-related cancers. American actress Marcia Cross publicly shared her experience with an HPV-related cancer and has since advocated for greater awareness and prevention.
Similarly, British reality television star Jade Goody died of cervical cancer in 2009 at the age of 27.
