Pakistan has officially launched its HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination campaign aimed at preventing cervical cancer, with a schoolgirl in a public school in Islamabad becoming the first to receive the vaccine.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, speaking at the launch event, said this marks a significant milestone in the country’s healthcare system. The campaign aims to vaccinate 13 million girls aged 9 to 14 against cervical cancer.
The health minister emphasized that effective healthcare begins outside hospital walls, stating that the real goal is to prevent people from needing hospital care in the first place.
He acknowledged the country’s ailing healthcare system, citing overcrowded hospitals and limited resources, and noted that simply building more hospitals won’t solve the crisis.
Expressing concern, Kamal pointed out that diseases eradicated in other parts of the world still exist in Pakistan—polio, for example, remains endemic in only two countries, one of which is Pakistan.
He also shared alarming statistics: around 11,000 mothers die during pregnancy annually, and cervical cancer affects nearly 5,000 women in Pakistan each year, claiming about 3,000 lives.
Regarding the HPV campaign, he said girls aged 9 to 14 would be vaccinated to protect future generations from this deadly disease.
Kamal appealed to parents to ensure their daughters receive the vaccine during the campaign and to support the government’s efforts in this crucial public health initiative.
