Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani has announced that 4.1 million girls in the province will be vaccinated under the cervical cancer vaccination campaign, scheduled to run from Sept 15 to 27.
Speaking at an advocacy seminar on HPV vaccination organised by the District Health Officer (DHO) South on Saturday, the minister admitted that he himself was previously unaware of the vaccine. “For me, this is big news — that a vaccine has been developed to prevent a type of cancer,” he added.
He said that nationwide, nearly 13 million girls would be vaccinated against cervical cancer, including 4.1 million in Sindh. “This vaccine can save countless lives,” he stressed, adding that cancer treatment is both costly and painful. “When someone falls victim to cancer, we often feel helpless and resort only to prayers. But this vaccine is a preventive shield.”
Ghani added that the cervical vaccine is currently being provided free of cost, though in the future it may need to be purchased. Drawing a parallel with Covid-19, he said: “Back then, people said there was no cure, but eventually a vaccine was developed.”
The importance of the HPV vaccine is best understood by those who have faced cervical cancer in their families, he said while appealing to parents to bring their daughters to vaccination centres. “Whenever such vaccines are introduced, negative propaganda begins,” he cautioned, calling for public support to make the campaign a success. “Together, we can defeat this cancer.”
