Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has stepped up preparations for an Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination initiative aimed at preventing growth in cases of cervical cancer. Health secretary Fayyaz Ali Shah directed allied health departments and partner organisations to complete all arrangements within the timeline stipulated by his office. Shah was chairing a meeting of the Steering Committee on HPV vaccinations, where the Director General Health Services briefed participants on progress made in preparations for the upcoming initiative.
The secretary called for close coordination among all relevant departments and partner organisations, emphasising effective planning, public awareness and timely implementation to ensure the success of the vaccination initiative. He directed health authorities to ensure that field level arrangements, human resources, logistics, communications activities and monitoring mechanisms were in place before the initiative moves forward and stressed coordination between the Health and Education departments to strengthen outreach and awareness among parents, students and communities.
The campaign is aimed at preventing the virus among approximately 2.6 to 2.9 million girls aged between 9 and 14 years. This Includes 1.6 million school going girls and 1.3 million girls our of school. The HPV vaccine is a single dose vaccine and will be given free of cost to patients.
The health department collaborated with UNICEF, the Muttahida Ulema Board, and Tanzeematul Madaris to engage local clerics and build community acceptance for the initiative. Other regions in Pakistan such as Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad rolled out the vaccine in September 2025, and KP is now stepping up its implementation for late 2026.
