In a landmark move for public health, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign from Ajmer on Saturday. This initiative targets adolescent girls to shield them from human papillomavirus, the primary culprit behind cervical cancer, which claims countless lives annually among Indian women.
Rajasthan hit the ground running on day one, organizing 188 vaccination sessions across the state. With 1,000 health facilities geared up and ready, the campaign promises comprehensive coverage. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma urged parents to enroll their daughters, hailing it as a pivotal step toward empowering women’s health and envisioning a cancer-free future.
Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar detailed the protocol: a single dose of the quadrivalent Gardasil-4 vaccine for girls aged 14 to under 15, administered intramuscularly in the upper left arm. He highlighted that cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer among women in India, underscoring the urgency of this statewide strategy.
Chief Secretary (Health) Gayatri Rathore revealed that over 832,000 girls in Rajasthan qualify for the vaccine. Mission Director of National Health Mission, Dr. Amit Yadav, emphasized the selection of facilities equipped with cold chain systems, designated medical officers, and internet connectivity. Each site boasts dedicated teams of vaccinators, verifiers, awareness personnel, and volunteers, all thoroughly trained at state, district, and institutional levels.
This campaign marks a historic public health milestone, fortifying Rajasthan’s preventive healthcare framework and safeguarding the next generation of girls from a preventable disease.