J&K Launches Free HPV Vaccination Drive to Eliminate Cervical Cancer by 2030

Jammu, Aug 22: Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday rolled out a free vaccination campaign to protect girls from cervical cancer, officials said.

The initiative, inaugurated by Health Minister Sakeena Itoo, aims to safeguard women’s health and achieve a cervical cancer-free J&K by 2030. She highlighted the need to spread awareness about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and urged close coordination among the departments of health, education, and social welfare to ensure wide outreach.

Principal of GMC Jammu, Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, noted that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the region, mainly caused by persistent HPV infection. He stressed that timely vaccination can prevent most cases.

Dr. Bhavna Langer, Associate Professor of Community Medicine, said the vaccine will be provided free of cost to girls aged 9–15 years at the State Cancer Institute and through special outreach sessions in schools, Anganwadi centres, and slum areas.