Sikkim joins the launch of the National HPV Vaccination Campaign
GANGTOK, (IPR): Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay virtually attended the launch of the National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign at Samman Bhawan here on Saturday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the national launch from Ajmer, Rajasthan. The campaign was launched under the National Health Mission of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, with the aim of preventing cervical cancer among adolescent girls through timely vaccination.
In his speech, the Prime Minister described the HPV vaccination drive as a major step towards strengthening preventive healthcare and ensuring the well-being of young girls. He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth approximately â‚ą17,000 crore in Rajasthan and distributed appointment letters to over 21,000 youth. Emphasizing infrastructure and renewable energy initiatives, he said that improved connectivity and schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme are contributing to economic growth and financial savings for households.
Addressing the gathering at Samman Bhawan, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay emphasized the importance of the HPV vaccine, which is an essential preventive measure, especially for girls aged 14 and older. He stated that cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women and emphasized that early vaccination is essential for effective prevention. He stated that the vaccine will be administered free of charge at designated government health centers across the state.
The Chief Minister further stated that Sikkim has always prioritized the health sector, with continuous efforts to strengthen primary healthcare services, increase immunization coverage, upgrade district hospitals, and improve access to specialized treatments. He stated that the state government is committed to expanding preventive and promotive healthcare initiatives to ensure that essential medical services reach even remote areas. He appealed to parents, teachers, and healthcare workers to actively support the campaign and spread awareness about the importance of timely vaccination.
As part of the launch event at Samman Bhavan, doctors administered the vaccine to nine students from Modern Senior Secondary School and PM Shri Senior Secondary School, Deorali. Each dose contains 0.5 ml of Gardasil 9, which provides protection against nine types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and is administered via injection.
The HPV vaccine protects against infection caused by the human papillomavirus, a common virus spread through close contact. It significantly reduces the risk of cervical cancer and also provides protection against other HPV-related cancers, including anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancers, as well as genital warts. The program aims to cover approximately 11.5 million girls aged 14 years and older annually across all states and union territories.
The program was attended by Health and Family Welfare Minister G.T. Dhungel; Cabinet Secretary V.B. Pathak; Chief Secretary R. Telang; Principal Secretary of the Education Department Sandeep Tambe; Normit Lepcha, Secretary, Women and Child, Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Welfare Department; senior officials from the Health and Family Welfare Department; and students from participating schools.
