The incidence of cervical cancer is increasing in Pakistan, and in view of this, the Government of Pakistan has announced to provide the HPV vaccine free of cost for the prevention of cervical cancer.
According to details, the cervical cancer prevention campaign will begin on September 15. Cervical cancer is the second most dangerous cancer among women, which develops in the lower part of the uterus.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this cancer is mostly caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). If not diagnosed in time, it can even prove fatal.
Health experts say that cervical cancer does not show clear symptoms in the early stages, which is why patients often consult doctors late. At an advanced stage, symptoms may include unusual bleeding, foul-smelling discharge, and pain in the lower back and abdomen.
Statistics show that nearly 5,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in Pakistan, while more than 3,000 women lose their lives annually due to this disease. The rate is high because a large number of women in the country do not undergo Pap smear tests or HPV tests regularly, which could help in early diagnosis.
The government has announced a cervical cancer prevention HPV vaccination campaign from September 15 to September 27. In the first phase, the campaign will be launched in Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, under which girls aged 9 to 14 will be provided the vaccine free of cost.
Through the joint efforts of the government and WHO, this vaccine is being made available to all segments of society without charge. According to health experts, if administered at a younger age, the HPV vaccine can prevent 70 to 90 percent of cervical cancer cases in women.
Experts further said that this recent initiative of the government will reduce the prevalence of the disease among women. This step will move Pakistan towards a future where cervical cancer can become a controllable disease.
