Rawalpindi to launch HPV drive for girls

The District Health Authority (DHA) has finalised the schedule to launch an HPV vaccination campaign for girls aged 9 to 14 across the district, commencing on September 15. The campaign, which will run until September 27, aims to vaccinate 387,334 girls against cervical cancer.

Under the slogan "Protecting the Next Generation", a comprehensive Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination initiative will be conducted in Rawalpindi. The primary objective of this campaign is to provide effective protection to young girls against HPV, a common virus that can cause several types of cancer, particularly cervical cancer.

The campaign targets 387,334 girls aged 9 to 14, representing the district's eligible population. It will be implemented across all nine tehsils and 212 union councils of Rawalpindi, which is projected to have a population exceeding 6.3 million in 2025.

To ensure maximum vaccine coverage and accessibility, a dual-pronged strategy has been adopted. A total of 303 outreach (mobile) teams have been deployed across the district, supported by 19 fixed vaccination centres, where an additional 5,700 girls will be vaccinated.

A robust logistics and human resource framework has been established to guarantee the campaign's success. A dedicated workforce of 322 trained vaccinators and 322 team assistants will administer the vaccines, while 625 social mobilisers will focus on raising awareness and engaging communities.

The campaign will be closely monitored through a multi-tiered supervision system, comprising 212 first-level supervisors (one per union council) and 27 second-level supervisors. Additionally, a focal person will be appointed in each union council to manage any potential adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) and to ensure the proper disposal of medical waste, in strict compliance with health and safety standards.