A beneficiary receives vaccination certificate during the launch of the HPV Vaccination Campaign against cervical cancer at District Hospital, Zunheboto, on March 2. (Photo Courtesy: CMO Zunheboto)
Zunheboto, March 3 (MExN): The District Health Society, Zunheboto, officially launched the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign against cervical cancer at the Conference Hall of the District Hospital, Zunheboto, on March 2.
Gracing the occasion as Guest of Honour, Dharam Raj, Deputy Commissioner of Zunheboto, urged parents and guardians to avail of the opportunity and ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive the vaccine.
He also addressed misconceptions surrounding the vaccine and cautioned against misinformation circulating on social media, encouraging the public to cross-check facts and rely on authentic information provided by health authorities.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Heto Swu, DPO (UIP/RCH), stated that the HPV Vaccination Programme has been launched nationwide as a major preventive initiative to combat cervical cancer. He noted that cervical cancer is currently the second most common cancer affecting women in India and highlighted that 99.7% of cases are caused by infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Dr Swu clarified that the HPV vaccine has been available in India since 2008 and has been incorporated into immunisation programmes in over 160 countries. He stated that the primary objective of introducing the vaccine is to reduce mortality due to cervical cancer and safeguard women’s health through preventive immunisation.
The district will undertake a three-month vaccination drive across all health units equipped with Ice Lined Refrigerators (ILR), covering 11 Cold Chain Points (CCPs) in the district. The target group for the campaign is adolescent girls aged 14–15 years.
District health officials, medical officers, staff and others attended the inaugural programme, which was chaired by Rosemary Vitoli, DPM (NHM).
