The list of twelve diseases affecting children has now been expanded with the addition of a thirteenth deadly disease.
According to details, cervical cancer has been added as the thirteenth life-threatening disease in children. Cervical cancer is a fatal illness that primarily affects women, which is why a vaccination campaign to protect girls aged 9 to 14 years against cervical cancer is being launched from September 15.
In Rawalpindi district, 387,334 girls will be vaccinated from September 15 to September 27. The District Health Authority has completed preparations for the vaccination campaign and has also issued the schedule for the HPV vaccination drive.
The campaign will be conducted across all 9 tehsils and 212 union councils of the district. The estimated population of Rawalpindi in 2025 has exceeded 6.3 million. A total of 303 outreach mobile teams will participate in the campaign, while 19 designated vaccination centers have also been established across the district.
At the vaccination centers, 5,700 girls will be vaccinated, while 322 vaccinators and 322 team assistants will be deployed for the campaign. In addition, 625 social mobilizers will carry out awareness campaigns within the community.
Furthermore, first level supervisors have been appointed in all 212 union councils, while 27 second-level supervisors will oversee the campaign. To address any potential adverse effects following immunization (AEFI), focal persons have also been designated.
CEO of the Health Authority, Dr. Ihsan Ghani, appealed to parents and teachers, stating that it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure every eligible girl receives this life-saving vaccine. “The health of our children is a shared trust,” he added.
