Chandigarh, April 21:- Haryana Health Minister Aarti Singh Rao appealed to the people to make it mandatory for teenage girls to get the Human Papillomavirus vaccine to protect them from cervical cancer. This vaccine is being administered free of cost.
The Health Minister was in Chandigarh today to listen to the problems of people from all over the state.
While making the people aware, he said that the government will administer this vaccine to about 3 lakh teenage girls (age group of 14-15 years) in the state. This campaign is being run to keep the boys healthy and safe.
Aarti Singh Rao said that Chief Minister Mr. Naib Singh Saini had launched the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine in Haryana on February 28. This vaccine provides protection against HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for cervical cancer. It also provides protection from types 6 to 11. Its target beneficiaries are teenage girls who have completed the age of 14 but have not yet turned 15.
He said that cervical cancer is a cancer that starts in the lower part of the cervix, the main cause of which is long-term infection with human papillomavirus. Especially HPV-16 and HPV-18 are considered more dangerous. Factors like smoking, early marriage and pregnancy, frequent childbirth and weak immune system increase its risk.
The Health Minister said that he has instructed the concerned officials that before administering the vaccine, all medical and paramedical staff should ensure that the teenage girls who are going to get vaccinated are not on an empty stomach at the time of vaccination. It is necessary to provide OTP-based consent or written consent from the parents before getting vaccinated.
Aarti Singh Rao said that the state government is continuously making efforts to improve the health of women and reduce the incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer. She said that the government is taking several concrete steps to strengthen awareness, regular check-ups and better treatment facilities.
The Health Minister said that the state government's goal is that every woman should get regular check-ups and proper treatment, so that cervical cancer can be eradicated from the root.