The Sindh government has announced the launch of a province-wide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, targeting girls aged 9 to 14 in an effort to protect them against cervical cancer.
Scheduled to begin in September 2025, the campaign will be rolled out across all districts of Sindh. The initiative is being spearheaded in collaboration with the Department of Health and Population Welfare.
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According to health officials, the HPV vaccine is up to 90% effective in preventing cervical cancer, which remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women globally.
The vaccination campaign will be inclusive, covering both school-going and out-of-school girls within the 914 age bracket. The government has emphasized that all eligible girls, regardless of their education status, will have access to the vaccine.
To ensure effective implementation, district education officers (Primary, Elementary, and Secondary) have been designated as focal persons for the campaign. They will coordinate with schools and local health authorities to facilitate smooth delivery of vaccines.
The Sindh Health Department has also issued an appeal to school administrations to fully cooperate with visiting health teams, ensuring maximum coverage and awareness.
The initiative is being lauded as a significant step towards strengthening preventive healthcare for young girls and reducing the long-term burden of cervical cancer in the province.
