Imphal: CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday attended the nationwide launch of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign against cervical cancer at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal.Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the programme across all states and Union Territories virtually from Ajmer, Rajasthan.
The CM handed over the vaccination certificate to a girl who received the HPV vaccine.The HPV vaccine protects girls from HPV infection, which is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. The vaccine is being administered to 14-15-year-old girls under a campaign mode strategy.Prior to the programme, Khemchand flagged off 33 ambulances for maternity services to various districts of the state. The ambulances were funded by the North Eastern Council (NEC) and procured by the directorate of health services, Manipur, to strengthen maternal and child healthcare delivery across the state.During the launching event, the CM visited the registration counter, vaccination room, and observation room at JNIMS. He interacted with doctors, nurses, and beneficiaries.Minister Khuraijam Loken Singh, chief secretary Dr Puneet Kumar Goel, administrative secretaries, director of health services among others, also attended the programme.In Mizoram, state health & family welfare minister Lalrinpuii on Saturday launched Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for 14-year-old girls in Aizawl. Lalrinpuii lauded launching of the campaign by PM Modi and said it marked a historic milestone in India’s fight against cervical cancer. She lamented that Mizoram has the highest incidence of cancer among the states in the country as per the population.She said the director of the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, where a large majority of cancer patients from Mizoram are being treated, has said high cancer prevalence in the state is due to excessive use of tobacco and tobacco products.Lalrinpuii further said cancer has been caused by consumption of smoked meat, pork fats and use of unhealthy edible oil for cooking. She said breast cancer is the most common in the country followed by cervical cancer with 99.7% of cervical cancer being caused by HPV.She expressed hope that HPV vaccine, administered free of costs, would help in reduction of cervical cancer and appealed to all the girls of 14 years to avail the opportunity.
