Big boost for Indian healthcare: PM Modi launches nationwide HPV vaccination for 14-year-old girls

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi The nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program for 14-year-old girls in all states and Union Territories was launched on Saturday. The initiative was launched during his visit to Ajmer, Rajasthan. It aims to prevent cervical cancer and is part of the government’s larger efforts to strengthen women’s health and advance preventive healthcare across the country.The scheme will cover around 1.15 billion girl children every year and the vaccine will be provided free of charge at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (primary health centres), community health centres, sub-district and district hospitals and government medical colleges.Vaccination is voluntary and parent or guardian consent is required before vaccination. Each treatment will be supervised by trained medical staff and supported by a skilled medical team. All locations will have fully functional cold chain points and 24×7 access to government health facilities to manage any rare adverse events following immunization (AEFI).In X’s post, Prime Minister Modi wrote: “We will leave no stone unturned to ensure the health and prosperity of the daughters of the country. In this direction, today at around 11:30 am, I will launch a nationwide HPV vaccination drive in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The goal of this initiative is to prevent cervical cancer. During this period, I will also have the opportunity to lay the foundation stone and launch multiple projects and hand over appointment letters to my young colleagues.”“Apart from health initiatives, Prime Minister Modi will also launch and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects worth over Rs 16,680 crore in Ajmer. These include projects in urban development, roads, irrigation, drinking water supply, energy and industrial infrastructure. Key infrastructure projects include the 4-lane greenfield expressway from Bandiqui to Jaipur, the 6-lane expressway in the Amritsar-Jamnagar Economic Corridor and the 8-lane expressway in the Delhi-Vadodara Expressway. The foundation will also be laid for elevated roads, national highways and major drinking water projects.Furthering the government’s commitment to youth empowerment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute over 21,800 appointment letters to newly recruited government employees in Rajasthan.According to a release from the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the nationwide HPV vaccination drive represents an important step in India’s public health journey and is in line with the government’s ‘Swastha Nari’ vision to ensure prevention, protection and equity in women’s healthcare.