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Vaccines

Launch of 13-Day Cervical Cancer Prevention Campaign in AJK

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A 13-day campaign aimed at immunizing young girls aged 9 to 14 years against human papillomavirus (HPV) will begin on September 15 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The campaign, running until September 27, targets 13 million girls across Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad, and AJK. The vaccination will be conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and will utilize schools and fixed sites, as well as mobile teams of female paramedical staff. The campaign is a response to the alarming rates of cervical cancer in Pakistan, where it is the third most common cancer among women, with over 5,000 new cases reported annually and nearly 3,200 deaths.

Key Takeaways:

  • The State Health Department of AJK will launch a 13-day campaign to prevent cervical cancer in young girls aged 9 to 14 years, starting from September 15.
  • The campaign, in collaboration with WHO, aims to immunize 13 million girls across Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad, and AJK against human papillomavirus (HPV).
  • The vaccination will be administered through schools, fixed sites, and mobile teams of female paramedical staff.
  • Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women in Pakistan, with over 5,000 new cases reported annually and nearly 3,200 deaths.
  • Dr. Rozeena Khalid from WHO highlighted that cervical cancer has a higher mortality rate than breast cancer in Pakistan.
  • Success of the campaign relies heavily on public awareness and participation, with parents being urged to get their daughters vaccinated.
  • The health department will conduct awareness campaigns through media representatives and print, electronic, and social media to promote the vaccine and prevent misconceptions.

Statistics:

  • 5,000 new cervical cancer cases reported annually in Pakistan (Source: WHO)
  • 3,200 deaths due to cervical cancer in Pakistan annually (Source: WHO)
  • Cervical cancer has a higher mortality rate than breast cancer in Pakistan (Source: Dr. Rozeena Khalid, WHO)
  • 13 million girls targeted for vaccination in the campaign (Source: State Health Department of AJK)
  • 13-day campaign period from September 15 to September 27 (Source: State Health Department of AJK)

Sources:

  • State Health Department of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)
  • World Health Organization (WHO)

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