Major boost to India’s healthcare: PM Modi rolls out nationwide HPV vaccination for 14-year-old girls | India News
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi A nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program was launched on Saturday, targeting 14-year-old girls in all states and Union Territories. The initiative was launched during a 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 program will cover about 1.15 crore girls every year and free vaccination will be provided at designated government health facilities including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centres), Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals and Government Medical Colleges.Immunization shall be voluntary, with consent of parent or guardian prior to administration. Each session will be supervised by trained medical officers and supported by skilled healthcare team. All sites will have functional cold chain points and 24×7 access to government health facilities to follow up on any rare adverse events such as immunization (AEFI).In a post by X, Prime Minister Modi wrote, “We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the girls of the country are healthy and prosperous. In this regard today at 11:30 am I will be launching a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The objective of this initiative is to prevent cervical cancer. During this time, I will be inaugurating several projects as well as laying stones. Appointment letters for my young colleagues.“Besides the health initiative, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of several development projects worth over Rs 16,680 crore in Ajmer. These include urban development, roads, irrigation, drinking water supply, energy and industrial infrastructure. Key infrastructure projects include a 4-lane greenfield expressway from Bandikui to Jaipur, a 6-lane highway on the Amritsar-Jamnagar Economic Corridor and an 8-lane carriageway on the Delhi-Vadodara Expressway. Foundations for elevated roads, state highways and major drinking water projects will also be laid.Furthering the government’s commitment to youth empowerment, Prime Minister Modi will distribute over 21,800 appointment letters to newly recruited government employees in Rajasthan.According to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release, the nationwide HPV vaccination drive represents a significant step in India’s public health journey and aligns with the government’s vision of “healthy women” by ensuring prevention, protection and equity in women’s healthcare.
