KP Health deptt steps up efforts to prevent cervical cancer through introduction of HPV vaccine

PESHAWAR, Jul 10 (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has accelerated its preparations for prevention of cervical cancer through the introduction of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

As a starting point, a catch-up campaign will be launched across the province in November 2026, which aims to protect girls against cervical cancer by providing the HPV vaccine free of cost to all eligible girls aged 9–14 years.

This campaign will target approximately 2.9 million girls aged 9–14 years across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Of these, around 1.6 million are school-going girls, while 1.3 million are out-of-school girls.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related illness and death among women worldwide, yet it is also one of the most preventable. The disease is caused primarily by persistent infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus passed through skin-to-skin contact.

Globally, cervical cancer claims more than 350,000 lives each year, with the overwhelming majority of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries where screening and treatment remain limited.

In Pakistan, cervical cancer is among the leading cancers affecting women, with an estimated over 5,000 new cases and more than 3,000 deaths every year.

To ensure every eligible girl is reached, Health Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has adopted two complementary vaccination strategies.

School-going girls will receive the vaccine through vaccination sessions conducted in both public and private schools.

Out-of-school girls will be vaccinated through outreach sessions in communities, mobile vaccination teams serving hard-to-reach and underserved areas and fixed vaccination sites at public health facilities.

The Health Department has established a comprehensive coordination mechanism to ensure the successful implementation of the campaign.

A Provincial Steering Committee, chaired by Secretary Health has been constituted to provide strategic guidance and oversight.

A Technical Committee, chaired by Director General Health Services, KP has also been established to lead technical planning, implementation and inter-sectoral coordination.

Representatives from all relevant government departments have been nominated to support campaign implementation, including the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, Higher Education Department, Private Schools Regulatory Authority, Auqaf Department, Social Welfare Department, Local Government Department and Information Department.

Provincial and district focal persons from the Education Department and other line departments have also been designated to ensure close coordination and smooth implementation throughout the campaign.

Leading professional bodies have also been engaged to lend their technical support and credibility to the campaign, including the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan (SOGP) and the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA).

Their involvement reinforces the strong medical consensus on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and its role in preventing cervical cancer.

Community awareness and public confidence are central to the success of this campaign. A comprehensive communication and community engagement strategy has been developed to educate parents, teachers, religious scholars, community leaders, and the general public about cervical cancer, the role of HPV in causing the disease, and the safety and effectiveness of the HPV vaccine.

Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials—including posters, banners, brochures, radio messages, social media content and other awareness materials—have been developed and will be disseminated before and during the campaign.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) have also been engaged to support community mobilization and awareness activities.

Working closely with local communities, they will help address misconceptions, build public confidence, and encourage parents and caregivers to vaccinate their eligible daughters.

Director General Health Services, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr. Shaheen Afridi urged parents, teachers, community leaders, religious scholars and all stakeholders to actively support the campaign and ensure that every eligible girl receives the HPV vaccine.

She emphasized that the vaccine is safe, effective and provides long-lasting protection against the types of HPV responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases.

She noted that introducing the HPV vaccine represents a major public health milestone and a significant investment in protecting the health and future of girls across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Director EPI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr. Muhammad Sohail Farooqi, reaffirmed EPI’s commitment to expanding access to life-saving vaccines and protecting children and adolescents from vaccine-preventable diseases across the province.

He added that, through strong government leadership and with the support of civil society organizations, educational institutions, health workers, community leaders, and parents, EPI aims to achieve high vaccination coverage during the Vaccination Campaign beginning in November 2026, contributing to Pakistan’s long-term goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem.