In a bold move to safeguard public health, Gujarat has launched a statewide HPV vaccination drive targeting 5.5 million adolescent girls. Kicked off in Ahmedabad, this initiative follows the national campaign unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week in Rajasthan.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel formally inaugurated the Gujarat phase at Sola Civil Hospital, with Health Minister Prful Pansheriya by his side. The drive zeroes in on 14-year-old girls, aiming to shield them from cervical cancer, India’s second most common cancer among women, accounting for nearly 18% of cases.
The stakes are alarmingly high. Nationwide, a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer every four minutes and 12 seconds, and one dies every seven minutes. About 70-75% of patients are detected at advanced stages, making it a leading killer for women aged 30 to 69.
In 2022 alone, India reported 127,526 new cases and 79,906 deaths from the disease. Gujarat saw 4,928 fresh diagnoses and 1,781 fatalities in the same year, underscoring the urgent need for prevention.
Experts from the Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI) dismiss myths surrounding the HPV vaccine, affirming its safety and efficacy. It effectively blocks high-risk HPV types 16 and 18, responsible for most cervical cancers.
This campaign marks a proactive step in Gujarat’s health strategy, blending government resolve with scientific backing to potentially slash cervical cancer rates and save countless lives in the years ahead.