Health experts have raised alarm that nearly 5,000 women in Pakistan are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, with more than 3,000 losing their lives to the disease. Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women.
To combat this threat, the Sindh Health Department will launch a 12-day Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign from September 15 to 27, aiming to immunize 4.1 million girls aged nine to 14 across the province. Routine vaccination for nine-year-old girls will begin nationwide from January 2026.
The campaign is being rolled out in collaboration with Jhpiego, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and other partners. A media briefing organised by Sindh's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in partnership with Jhpiego, under the theme "Healthy Daughter, Healthy Family," highlighted the importance of the HPV vaccine and the critical role of media in countering misconceptions and raising awareness.
Dr Khurram Akram, Technical Director at the Federal Directorate of Immunization, presented alarming statistics, noting that over 348,000 women worldwide died from cervical cancer in 2022. In Pakistan, approximately 5,008 women are diagnosed annually, with more than 3,000 deaths reported each year. He stressed that cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women of reproductive age.
"Through media engagement, we can ensure that parents and communities understand the life-saving benefits of the HPV vaccine," Dr Akram said, calling the vaccine "a guarantee of a safer future for our daughters."
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