K-P targets 2.9m girls with HPV vaccine

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Department of Health has announced the launch of a major HPV vaccination campaign in November 2026 to protect girls from cervical cancer. All necessary preparations for the initiative have been completed.

Under the campaign, a province-wide special catch-up vaccination drive will provide free HPV vaccine to all eligible girls aged 9 to 14 years. The ambitious target is to vaccinate approximately 2.9 million girls, including 1.6 million school-going and 1.3 million out-of-school girls.

To ensure maximum coverage, the Health Department has adopted a two-pronged strategy. School-going girls will be vaccinated through special sessions organised at government and private educational institutions. Out-of-school girls will be reached via community outreach sessions, mobile vaccination teams in remote and underserved areas, and fixed vaccination centres at public health facilities.

For effective coordination and implementation, the department has established a robust mechanism. A Provincial Steering Committee, chaired by the Secretary of Health, will provide overall guidance and oversight. A Technical Committee headed by the Director General Health Services will handle technical planning, execution, and inter-departmental coordination.

Representatives from relevant government departments, including Elementary & Secondary Education, Higher Education, Private Schools Regulatory Authority, Auqaf, Social Welfare, Local Government, and Information, have been nominated to support the campaign. Provincial and district focal persons from the Education Department and other concerned agencies have also been appointed.

The initiative enjoys strong backing from the medical community. Leading organisations, including the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan (SOGP) and the Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA), are providing technical support. Their involvement reflects a broad medical consensus on the safety, efficacy, and importance of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer.

A comprehensive communication and community engagement strategy has been developed to create public awareness and build trust. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, including posters, banners, brochures, radio messages, and social media content, will be widely disseminated before and during the campaign.

Civil society organisations have also been engaged to address misconceptions, strengthen community confidence, and encourage parents and guardians to ensure timely vaccination of their daughters.

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. It is primarily caused by persistent infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which spreads through skin-to-skin contact. Globally, over 350,000 women die from the disease each year, with the majority of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries where screening and treatment facilities are limited.