Staff Correspondent

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme for juvenile girls is set to begin Thursday in seven divisions, except Dhaka, for prevention of cervical cancer.

The campaign will continue for four weeks under the initiative of the government with the support of World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said Dr Mohammad Shahriar Sajjad, Deputy Director of Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), at a workshop organized marking the HPV Immunization Campaign Programme at National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC) in the capital today.

Shahriar Sajad said, in the light of the experience of the Dhaka division, the campaign in the seven divisions will begin October 24 and continue for 18 days. "Our aim is to provide this vaccination to 62,12,532 girls in seven divisions."

Information and Broadcasting Secretary (Routine Duty) Md Nazrul Islam inaugurated the workshop while UNICEF Representative Bridget Job Johnson was present. NIMC Director General (Current Charge) Sufi Zakir Hossain chaired the workshop.

DPM of the EPI programme Rajib Sarkar elaborated details of the campaign in the workshop, while NIMC Director Md Nazrul Islam highlighted various aspects about the role of mass media in this campaign.

Dr Rajib Sarkar said that it takes 15-20 years from being infected with cervical cancer to manifest and that is why it is called silent killer.

When patients are diagnosed almost in the final stage appeared become difficult to recover from it, he said, adding HPV vaccination can prevent this cancer.

Earlier in 2023, about 15 lakh juvenile girls were inoculated one dose of HPV vaccine in Dhaka division and they were not witnessed any adverse reactions. According to the Directorate General of Health Services, the immunization campaign will be run for a total of 18 days.

During the first 10 days, the programme will be conducted in educational institutions and EPI permanent centers. Girls of grade 5-9 will get vaccine in educational institutions and if anyone is unable to receive there, they should get vaccinated at the center.

Besides, girls aging 10 to 14 years, who don't have educational institution, can also receive vaccine at the centers.

In the next 8 days, girls aging 10 to 14 years, who don't have educational institutions, can receive vaccine through permanent (District hospital, Upazila Health Complex) and temporary (various unions, ward's vaccination centers). However, the 5-9 graders, who missed in schools, can also take vaccinations here.

According to medics, the main cause of cancer of women is cervical cancer, and it is the 4th most common cancer among women in the world and the 2nd most common cancer among women.