The DOPASI Foundation organized a media roundtable in Islamabad to rally senior journalists in support of Pakistan’s upcoming first-ever national HPV vaccination campaign. The event underscored the crucial role media can play in raising public awareness, dispelling myths, and fostering trust in the HPV vaccine, which is aimed at protecting millions of Pakistani women from cervical cancer.
Participants included representatives from both public and private health sectors, as well as prominent organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Pakistan. The session provided in-depth information about the campaign’s objectives, the health benefits of the HPV vaccine, and offered ethical reporting guidelines to ensure accurate media coverage.
Highlighting the urgency of the campaign, development journalist Huma Khawar emphasized that over 73 million women in Pakistan are at risk for cervical cancer, making accurate and responsible media coverage essential. Dr. Rozina Khalid, a consultant with the World Health Organization, described the vaccine as a result of extensive scientific and international collaboration, and noted that integrating it into regular immunization efforts marks a significant advancement for the health of future generations.
Dr. Saima Zubair from SOGP stressed the national responsibility to protect women’s health, quoting Pakistan’s founding father to reinforce that women’s wellbeing is vital to the nation’s progress. With cervical cancer being the second most common cancer among Pakistani women, she called the introduction of the HPV vaccine a timely and necessary step.
On-the-ground perspectives were provided by Dr. Syeda Rashida Batool, District Health Officer Islamabad, who applauded the initiative to involve the media and expressed hope that journalists’ support would boost community awareness and campaign success.
Kinz ul Eman, CEO of DOPASI Foundation, highlighted the critical contribution of community organizations in mobilizing families and fostering public trust in the vaccine. She urged civil society to participate actively, noting that grassroots awareness is essential to the campaign’s impact.
Media participants praised the session for its relevance and pledged to cover the campaign responsibly. Pakistan is poised to become the 150th country worldwide to launch the HPV vaccine nationally. The vaccination drive will target girls aged 9 to 14 across Sindh, Punjab, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Islamabad, with plans to integrate the vaccine into the country’s routine immunization program in the future.
