Damodar Rajanarsimha launched HPV vaccination drive
HYDERABAD: Health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha on Saturday launched the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive at King Koti Hospital in Hyderabad.
He handed over vaccination certificates to girls who received the vaccine. Anil Kumar Yadav, MP, participated in the programme along with health principal secretary Christina Z Chongthu and health and family welfare commissioner Dr Sangita Satyanarayana.
The vaccination drive will continue for three months. For the first month, the vaccine will be available at government general hospitals, area hospitals and community health centres. It will later be extended to primary health centres.
Government frames comprehensive cancer policy
Addressing the gathering, Rajanarsimha said the state had marked a significant step in public health. “We have begun a major initiative to protect the health of girl children,” he said.
He noted that changing lifestyles, food habits and pollution were contributing to a rise in cancer cases across the country. “In our state alone, 55,000 to 60,000 cancer cases are reported every year. Experts warn that this number may increase by 10% in the next five years,” he said.
To address the challenge, the government has framed a comprehensive cancer policy. Chemotherapy services have been extended beyond Hyderabad to remote districts such as Mulugu and Adilabad. Day Care Cancer Centres have been set up in every district, and mobile screening units are being introduced for early detection.
He said extensive screening was being conducted for women through Aarogya Mahila clinics. The government plans to soon declare cancer a notifiable disease to strengthen monitoring and control.
Renowned oncologist Nori Dattatreyudu has been appointed as adviser to guide cancer control measures.
Cervical cancer second most common among women
The minister said cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India. In Telangana, an average 3,200 women are diagnosed with the disease each year.
“This is the only cancer that can be prevented in advance. Nearly 99.7% of cases are caused by the Human Papillomavirus. To eliminate this virus, we have launched the HPV vaccination drive across the state with the support of the Union government,” he said.
Girls aged 14 to below 15 years will be covered under the drive. Around 3.5 to 4 lakh girls are expected to receive the vaccine over the next three months.
In private hospitals, a single dose of the ‘Gardasil’ vaccine costs between ₹3,000 and ₹4,000. The government is providing it free of cost.
Appealing to parents, the minister said, “If you have a 14-year-old girl at home, please come forward and get her vaccinated. Let us protect the future of our girls and the future of Telangana.”
