Sindh has launched a province-wide vaccination campaign to protect girls against cervical cancer, with health and education officials announcing a target of vaccinating 4.1 million girls through schools, primary health centres and outreach activities. The program, supported by WHO, UNICEF and district teams, began with a central ceremony at Woman Pakistan Government Girls School in Karachi where the first dose was administered to a student.
Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho and Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah led the launch event. Dr. Pechuho said the campaign aims to ensure that Pakistan’s daughters are spared from cervical cancer and stressed that girls’ health is a priority because they are the future mothers of the country. She emphasized that the vaccination drive will include both school-based and community-based immunization efforts and pledged that no eligible girl should be left without the vaccine.
Officials outlined an ambitious target of reaching 4.1 million girls across Sindh. The province will deliver the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine through coordinated efforts in schools, basic health centres and outreach programs, with WHO, UNICEF and local district teams playing key roles in implementation.
Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah urged families to support the campaign, saying mothers, sisters and daughters must be protected and that the government must take women’s health and related social issues seriously. He said provincial directives have been issued to all public and private schools to participate in the HPV vaccination drive and warned that authorities would take action against any school that refuses to cooperate. He also noted his satisfaction that the campaign’s inauguration took place at a government school, underscoring the public sector’s role in the effort.
