Imran Zakir
KARACHI: The final and monumental launch of the HPV vaccination campaign was held on Monday at Khatoon-e-Pakistan Girls School in Karachi. The event was graced by Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy, Sardar Ali Shah, senior government officials, collaborative partners, and stakeholders.
Project Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Sindh, Dr. Raj Kumar, in his welcome address, said Sindh has always been at the forefront of immunization under visionary leadership. “We aim to reach every girl across the province-whether in school or at home-with the challenging target of vaccinating 4.1 million girls to protect them from HPV-related cancers. The Literacy Department has played a crucial role in this campaign, and we are grateful to our coalition partners, especially the World Health Organization (WHO) for technical support, UNICEF for community engagement, and 1122 for readiness and operational support,” he noted.
Tabani Macolza, Country Director at GAVI, termed the campaign “the beginning of eliminating HPV from society.” He praised Dr. Pechuho’s relentless efforts and political leadership for supporting the initiative. “The most important people today are the girls themselves. Early screening and vaccination can save countless lives in low-income countries,” he added.
Dr. Xia Wei, WHO-EPI Team Lead in Pakistan, emphasized that the HPV vaccine, already introduced in over 150 countries, will protect millions of girls. “Every year, 5,000 women in Pakistan are diagnosed with cervical cancer. This campaign is a credible step toward eradicating the disease,” she said.
Mr. Prem Bahadur Chand, Chief Field Office, UNICEF Sindh, said: “This campaign marks the start of a journey to eradicate a deadly virus. Now, girls have the opportunity for life-saving protection. Its success depends on collective effort and multisector collaboration.”
Singer and social activist Shahzad Roy, President of Zindagi Trust, highlighted how organizations like AMAN and Zindagi Trust are working to counter misconceptions about HPV vaccination. “Parents and girls gave consent once they were properly informed. Sindh remains a pioneer in addressing social health issues and education reforms,” he said.
Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah noted the social barriers faced by women in Pakistan. “Ours is a male-dominated society, and we must protect our women not only from social challenges but also from diseases like HPV,” he said.
Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, who led the ceremony, shared her personal motivation. “I have seen many women live painful lives due to HPV-related cancers, often diagnosed too late. This is the only cancer for which a preventive vaccine exists, and we must ensure timely protection for our daughters,” she said.
In a symbolic moment, the daughter of Dr. Khalid Shafi, Secretary General of the Pakistan Pediatric Association, received the HPV vaccine.
The launch was attended by Secretary Health Dr. Rehan Iqbal Baloch, Secretary Education and Literacy Zahid Abbasi, Dr. Abdul Bari Khan (CEO, Indus Hospital), Khalid Mehmood (MD, Getz Pharma), Dr. Sara Paul (former President, SOGP), Dr. Tazeen Abbas (Secretary General, SOGP), Brig (R) Tarique Qaudir Lakhiar (CEO, SIEHS), Dr. Saqib Sheikh (Director, Health Services Karachi), and others.
The post Rich Tribute Paid to Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho for Free HPV Vaccination Karachi appeared first on The Financial Daily.
