In a landmark move for public health, Punjab’s government has announced the launch of Pakistan’s first national cervical cancer prevention campaign, set to begin in November 2025.
The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir and Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat. The initiative will focus on vaccinating nearly 8 million girls aged 9 to 14 across the province, aiming to protect them from the risk of cervical cancer.
Health officials confirmed that the campaign will cover students from public and private schools, as well as girls studying in religious seminaries (madrasas). Vaccination teams from the health department will visit educational institutions to administer the doses.
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To ensure smooth implementation, a joint working group will be formed to coordinate efforts between the health and education departments. The group will oversee planning, outreach, and vaccine delivery.
This initiative is being hailed as a crucial step in preventing cervical cancer, a disease that affects thousands of women in Pakistan each year.