The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Wednesday launched a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign in selected districts of the province, aiming to immunize approximately 2.9 million girls aged 9 to 14 against cervical cancer.
KP launches HPV vaccination drive to protect 2.9 million girls
ISLAMABAD, Nov 11 (APP): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Wednesday launched a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign in selected districts of the province, aiming to immunize approximately 2.9 million girls aged 9 to 14 against cervical cancer.
Under the campaign, around 1.6 million school-going girls and 1.3 million out-of-school girls will receive the free vaccine to protect them against HPV infection, a major cause of cervical cancer.
The provincial Health Department, in collaboration with the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and partner organizations, is implementing the campaign to ensure that all eligible girls have access to the preventive vaccine.
Health authorities have urged parents, teachers, religious scholars and community representatives to support the initiative and encourage families to get their daughters vaccinated within the campaign period.
Medical experts say HPV vaccination is a safe and effective preventive measure that provides protection against the types of human papillomavirus responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.
They emphasize that administering the vaccine at the recommended age, before potential exposure to the virus, offers the best protection.
The campaign also aims to improve public awareness about cervical cancer prevention and address misconceptions regarding vaccination.
The provincial authorities have called upon communities to cooperate with vaccination teams and help ensure that both school-going and out-of-school girls benefit from the free immunization facility.
