Ajmer: In an important public health initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Programme, targeting girls aged 14 years across all states and Union Territories from Ajmer in Rajasthan on Saturday.
This programme aims at preventing cervical cancer and is part of the government’s larger effort to strengthen women’s health and advance preventive healthcare across the country.
A few schoolgirls were vaccinated in the Prime Minister’s presence.
It will cover approximately 1.15 crore girls each year and the vaccine will be provided free of cost at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centres), Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals, and Government M
edical Colleges, as reported by TOI.
The vaccination will be voluntary, with parental or guardian consent obtained before administration. Each session will be supervised by trained medical officers and supported by skilled healthcare teams. All sites will have functional Cold Chain Points and access to 24×7 government health facilities to manage any rare Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI).
“We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the daughters of the country are healthy and prosperous. In this direction, this morning, around 11:30 AM, I will launch the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The objective of this initiative is the prevention of cervical cancer. During this time, I will also have the opportunity to lay the foundation stones and inaugurate several projects, along with handing over appointment letters to my young colleagues,” PM Modi posted on X.
The nationwide HPV vaccination drive represents a significant step in India’s public health journey and aligns with the government’s vision of “Swastha Nari”, ensuring prevention, protection, and equity in women’s healthcare, a release by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) states.