Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign from Ajmer on Saturday, marking a pivotal step in safeguarding women against cervical cancer. This ambitious initiative targets adolescent girls across India, aiming to drastically reduce future incidences of this deadly disease.
In Rajasthan, the campaign hit the ground running with 188 vaccination sessions organized on the very first day. Over 1,000 health facilities statewide have been primed and ready to administer the shots, ensuring widespread access.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma urged parents to enroll their daughters, hailing the drive as a cornerstone for women’s health empowerment and a cancer-free future. ‘This is a decisive move towards protecting our girls,’ he emphasized.
Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar detailed the protocol: a single dose of the quadrivalent Gardasil-4 vaccine for girls who have turned 14 but not yet 15, injected into the upper left arm. He highlighted that cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer among Indian women, underscoring the urgency of this strategy.
Chief Secretary (Health) Gayatri Rathore revealed that more than 832,000 girls in Rajasthan are eligible. Mission Director of National Health Mission, Dr. Amit Yadav, confirmed that only facilities with robust cold chain systems, designated medical officers, and internet connectivity were selected.
Trained teams of vaccinators, verifiers, awareness workers, and volunteers staff every site. Comprehensive training at state, district, and institutional levels has equipped them for seamless execution.
Health officials describe this as a historic public health milestone, fortifying preventive infrastructure and prioritizing adolescent girl safety in Rajasthan.