HPV Vaccination is Essential for Women’s Health: Sindh Health Minister

Karachi: Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho has emphasized the importance of administering the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, highlighting its role in preventing cervical cancer among women.

Speaking at a ceremony in Karachi, Dr. Pechuho said that she had witnessed numerous cases where women lost their lives to cervical cancer. She noted that the disease is often diagnosed at a very late stage because its symptoms are initially mild, making it extremely painful and difficult to treat in advanced stages.

“This cancer is caused by a virus, and it is the only cancer that can be diagnosed and prevented through vaccination,” she stressed. Expressing gratitude to Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah and activist Shehzad Roy for supporting the vaccination campaign in schools, she said, “Our mothers and sisters will lead this nation forward — women have immense strength.”

Addressing the event, Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah said he had been informed that some schools were reluctant to cooperate with the HPV vaccination drive. He added that he had issued immediate instructions to ensure full cooperation from schools, emphasizing that the vaccine is vital for the health and safety of young girls.

Shah assured that he would personally extend support wherever needed to make the campaign successful.