Manipur Chief Minister Launches HPV Vaccination Drive to Combat Cervical Cancer
In a significant public health initiative, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh officially launched the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal on Saturday. The campaign, which aims to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer, was simultaneously inaugurated across all states and Union Territories by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via a virtual event from Ajmer, Rajasthan.
Vaccination Drive Targets 14-15-Year-Old Girls
During the ceremony, Chief Minister Khemchand personally handed over vaccination certificates to girls who received the HPV vaccine, symbolizing the state's commitment to this preventive healthcare measure. The HPV vaccine is being administered free of cost to girls aged 14-15 years under a campaign mode strategy. This vaccine is crucial as it protects against HPV infection, which is the leading cause of cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers among women in India.
Prior to the vaccination launch, the Chief Minister flagged off 33 new ambulances dedicated to maternity services, which will be deployed across various districts of Manipur. These ambulances, funded by the North Eastern Council (NEC) and procured by the directorate of health services in Manipur, are designed to strengthen maternal and child healthcare delivery throughout the state.
CM Inspects Facilities and Interacts with Healthcare Workers
As part of the event, Chief Minister Khemchand conducted an extensive inspection of the vaccination facilities at JNIMS. He visited the registration counter, vaccination room, and observation room, where he engaged with doctors, nurses, and beneficiaries to understand the implementation process firsthand. The programme was also attended by Minister Khuraijam Loken Singh, Chief Secretary Dr. Puneet Kumar Goel, administrative secretaries, and the director of health services, among other officials.
Mizoram Launches Parallel HPV Campaign Amid High Cancer Rates
In a related development, Mizoram's State Health and Family Welfare Minister Lalrinpuii launched the HPV vaccination campaign for 14-year-old girls in Aizawl on the same day. She praised Prime Minister Modi for initiating this nationwide effort, describing it as a historic milestone in India's fight against cervical cancer.
Minister Lalrinpuii highlighted that Mizoram has the highest incidence of cancer among all states in India, based on population data. She attributed this alarming statistic to several factors, including excessive use of tobacco and tobacco products, consumption of smoked meat and pork fats, and the use of unhealthy edible oils for cooking. According to her, the director of Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai—where many cancer patients from Mizoram receive treatment—has confirmed that tobacco use is a primary contributor to the state's high cancer prevalence.
She further noted that breast cancer is the most common cancer in India, followed closely by cervical cancer, with 99.7% of cervical cancer cases linked to HPV infection. Expressing optimism, Lalrinpuii stated that the free HPV vaccine could significantly reduce cervical cancer rates and urged all eligible 14-year-old girls to take advantage of this opportunity.
The simultaneous launches in Manipur and Mizoram underscore a coordinated national effort to address cervical cancer through vaccination and improved healthcare infrastructure, marking a proactive step toward women's health and preventive medicine in India.
