In the next three months, Delhi will be the first state to start the “Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination” programme to prevent cervical cancer. Inaugurating the four-day “International Workshop on Cancer Awareness, Prevention, Screening and Early Detection for Saarc Nations”, Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain on Monday said, “HPV vaccination will be started within three to four month.”
Mr Jain said the vaccination programme will be completed in two phases. In the first phase, girls studying in the sixth standard will be vaccinated this year. “From next year, the Delhi government aims to vaccinate all the girls between 9-13 years of age group. This will mainly target all the school-going girls whether it’s government or a private school,” added Mr Jain.
According to Mr Jain, the vaccine will cost nearly Rs 450 per dose under this programme, while the actual cost of this vaccine is Rs 3000 per dose. “We need to make people aware about cancer at a larger scale. Public understanding and awareness for early detection and prevention for this deadly disease also needs to be raised. Through this initiative, we will be able to prevent cervix cancer by 80 per cent,” said Mr Jain.
Director, Delhi State Cancer Institute, Prof. R.K. Grover said that HPV vaccine is used globally. However, for the first time it will be used by any government agency in the country. “Private sector uses this vaccination to prevent cervical cancer, but for the first time a campaign has been launched,” added Prof. Grover.
Prof. Grover advised that the vaccine is suitable for young girls between 9 to 13 years.
“Many medical professional suggest vaccination to girls above 13 year or women which does not give desired result in preventing cervical cancer,” Prof. Grover said.
The first of its kind workshop will focus on five major cancers, seen commonly in the Saarc region, namely cervix, breast, head and neck, lung and colorectal cancer.
