Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday launched the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination campaign coinciding with the countrywide launch of the programme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Ajmer, Rajasthan.The vaccine against HPV infection will protect girls from cervical cancer. The campaign will cover 3.36 lakh girls aged between 14 and 15 years across the state in the next three months.“Arrangements have been made to administer this vaccine first at community health centres (CHCs), sub-divisional hospitals (SDHs), and district headquarters hospitals (DHHs). In the second month, it will be expanded to primary health centres (PHCs). This vaccine is completely free of cost,” said an official statement issued by the chief minister’s office.After launching the campaign, Majhi said the Mukhyamantri Cancer Care Abhiyan was announced in the 2026-27 budget to combat cancer. “Under this, extensive community awareness programmes along with cancer screening will be conducted in villages. Mobile camps will be organised in rural areas and arrangements will be made for early treatment,” he added.He said 121 cancer treatment packages are also being specially provided for Odisha under Ayushman Bharat and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana. On this occasion, the chief minister also inaugurated 28 new 108 ambulances to strengthen the state’s emergency healthcare services. Earlier, 400 ambulances were inaugurated in two phases. Now, 428 new ambulances were added to provide emergency healthcare services to people. The state govt spent Rs 111 crore from its own funds on this.Majhi said these new ambulances would further strengthen the healthcare system by providing emergency services to people. “While the market price of this HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer is Rs 4,000, govt made arrangements to provide this vaccine free of cost to our girls,” said health minister Mukesh Mahaling at the programme.State govt allocated Rs 311 crore in the recent budget for the Mukhyamantri Cancer Care Abhiyan for taking up community awareness, village-level screening and mobile camps, cancer registry, early treatment and free patient transportation services.
