Shillong: More than 1,800 girls across all 12 Meghalaya districts have so far received free vaccinations against human papillomavirus (HPV), with vaccination sessions to continue at govt health facilities through Dec this year, the health department said on Thursday.The Meghalaya HPV Vaccination Campaign was launched on Feb 28 at Ganesh Das Hospital in Shillong to protect adolescent girls against cervical cancer. In Meghalaya, cervical cancer is the second-leading cancer among women, accounting for approximately 10% of all cancers diagnosed among them.“Approximately one in 109 women in Meghalaya faces a lifetime risk of developing cervical cancer (ages 0–74 years). Despite this, cervical cancer screening uptake in the state remains critically low — only around 0.6% of women have ever been screened (ICMR study), well below both the national average and the WHO target of 70% screening coverage for eligible women,” the health department said.“This wide gap between disease burden and screening access is exactly why prevention through HPV vaccination is so critical for Meghalaya’s daughters today,” the statement stated.According to official data, the population-based cancer registry recorded 7,520 new cancer cases in the state, comprising 4,688 males and 2,832 females. The age-adjusted incidence rate was 176.8 per 100,000 among males, compared with 96.5 per 100,000 among females.Oesophageal cancer ranked first among both sexes, accounting for 31% of cases among males and 22.3% among females. Among males, the hypopharynx (8.8%) and stomach (6.3%) were the next-leading sites, while among females, the cervix uteri (10.0%) and mouth (8.2%) ranked second and third.Adolescent girls, who have completed 14 years but are yet to turn 15, can receive HPV vaccine free of cost at all govt health facilities. A simple consent form signed by a parent or guardian is required, the statement said.Vaccination sessions are organised at health facilities alongside parent-teacher meetings. Posters and leaflets in local languages are used to help parents make informed decisions.Under the State Cancer Society Meghalaya and the National Health Mission, HPV screening for eligible women will be launched soon across the state. The initiative will extend protection beyond vaccination to include early detection and timely treatment for adult women.
