Delhi has become the first state in the country to launch
the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as a public health programme for school
children.
- Dr R K Grover, director of the Delhi state cancer institute, which will be coordinating the programme, said, “Almost 80 per cent of cervical cancers can be prevented with the HPV vaccine. This programme has already been adopted in 150 countries. Delhi will be the first state in India to replicate this.”
About the Programme:
- Girls of class VI in government schools will be targeted in the first phase. This will be completed in the current academic year over two phases.
- From next year we aim to vaccinate all the girls aged 9-13 years. We will mainly target all the school-going girls," Jain said.
- The HPV vaccine protects people against the group of 150-odd HPVs, some of which can cause cervical cancer.
- Through this initiative Delhi Government targeted to prevent about 80 per cent of the cervical cancers.
Collaboration for the project:
- Delhi State Cancer Institute GNCTD, in collaboration with International Agency For Research On Cancer, Union for International Cancer Control and Ministry of Health has organised a four-day International Workshop on Cancer between February 29 to March 3.
HPV Demography:
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection which causes cervical cancer.
- According to the HPV India Report 2015 (HPV R-2015), 1,22,844 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 67,477 die from the disease in India every year.
- Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women aged 15-44 yearss.
- As per WHO recommendations, the first dose of the vaccine should be administered to girls between 9 and 13 years.
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