The Sindh Health Department has launched a vaccination campaign against the human papillomavirus (HPV) across the province.
According to the details, the aim of this vaccination campaign is to prevent life-threatening cervical cancer in women. The inaugural ceremony titled “Healthy Daughter, Healthy Family” was held at the Khatun-e-Pakistan Girls School in Karachi, where Provincial Health Minister Sindh Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho inaugurated the vaccine campaign.
The ceremony was attended by Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, EPI Sindh Director Dr. Raj Kumar, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other international NGOs.
The first HPV vaccine in Sindh was administered to Ayesha Khalid, the thirteen-year-old daughter of pediatrician Dr. Khalid Shafi. The aim of this initiative was to instill confidence among parents and the public that this vaccine is safe and effective. Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho said that these girls are our future, we want to protect them from this painful disease.
Cervical cancer does not show any symptoms in the early stages, and it is detected when it reaches a dangerous stage. This is the only cancer for which there is a vaccine. According to EPI Sindh, this campaign will continue till September 27 and this vaccine will be provided free of cost to 4.1 million girls aged 9 to 14 in the province.
The vaccine will be available at all government schools, madrasas, private institutions and health centers. While the girls will also be given a single dose of injectable vaccine by going door to door. More than three thousand vaccinators, mostly women, are involved in the campaign so that girls from schools and communities can be included.
Dr. Raj Kumar said that this is not just a vaccine launch but a day to protect girls from cancer. Our effort is that not a single girl should be deprived of the vaccine. Parents should come forward to protect their children.
Education Minister Sardar Shah directed schools to fully cooperate with the health department. He warned that if any school administration refuses to cooperate, action will be taken according to the law. EPI Sindh clarified that the negative campaign spread on social media is baseless while the World Health Organization and UNICEF have approved this vaccine.
Pakistan has become the 149th country to provide HPV vaccine after 148 countries. According to statistics, more than 5,000 women in Pakistan get cervical cancer annually while 3,309 women lose their lives. The Sindh Health Department has allocated a three-year budget for HPV vaccine, so that girls can be provided with a safe and healthy future.