Raipur, April 23: Chhattisgarh health minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal has officially launched the state-wide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer. The initiative, part of a national health mission, targets girls aged 14 years to eliminate the second most common cancer among women in India.
The single-dose Gardasil-4 vaccine is being provided free of cost at all government medical colleges, district hospitals, and community health centres (CHCs). This move aims to remove financial barriers, as the private market price for a single dose is approximately ₹4,000.
“Early prevention through vaccination is essential because cervical cancer often progresses without visible symptoms in its initial stages,” health officials stated. The vaccine is scientifically proven to be safe and highly effective, offering a long-term protective shield for young girls before they reach a vulnerable age.
To ensure transparency and tracking, the health department is utilising the U-WIN digital platform. All beneficiaries must be registered on the system, which is supported by trained healthcare workers and medical officers at functional Cold Chain Points (CCPs).
Authorities have encouraged parents and citizens to actively participate in the campaign. While the current rollout focuses on major centres, the government plans to extend the service to primary health centres (PHCs) and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across rural Chhattisgarh in the coming weeks.