Experts urge advocacy for HPV vaccine uptake after Sindh govt rollout
National health stakeholders gathered at Aga Khan University auditorium for ‘Safeguarding Girls’ Futures’ event.
Yumna Khan - Dawn
Media Source: Dawn (Pakistan)
Date: 14 August 2025
At an event organised by Aga Khan University's Department of Paediatrics and Child Health titled “Safeguarding Girls’ Futures,” national health experts called for stronger public advocacy and awareness ahead of Sindh’s human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign launching in September for girls aged…
At an event organised by Aga Khan University's Department of Paediatrics and Child Health titled “Safeguarding Girls’ Futures,” national health experts called for stronger public advocacy and awareness ahead of Sindh’s human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign launching in September for girls aged 9–14. They stressed the vaccine’s vital role in preventing cervical cancer—the third most common cancer among Pakistani women—diagnosed in over 5,000 women annually in the country, with more than 3,000 deaths each year. It is also the third most common cancer in women nationwide and the second among those aged 15 to 44. With support from Gavi, the doses will be provided free through the Expanded Programme on Immunisation. Experts underscored the need to reach both in-school and out-of-school girls and to address cultural and gender-related concerns to ensure a successful rollout.