Koriya, Balrampur achieve 100% vaccination against their respective targets; more than 1.66 lakh eligible girls vaccinated across the State
Raipur. Chhattisgarh is making significant progress in its efforts to protect 14-year-old girls against cervical cancer, with the State’s Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign gaining steady momentum and widespread public support. More than 1.66 lakh eligible girls have been vaccinated so far. Continuous engagement with schools, communities and parents, coupled with extensive awareness initiatives by the Health Department, is yielding encouraging results across the State.
Koriya and Balrampur districts have emerged as examples for the rest of Chhattisgarh by achieving 100 per cent vaccination against their respective targets. The achievement has been made possible through coordinated efforts involving the Health Department, Education Department, Mitanins, Anganwadi workers and local communities, ensuring that all eligible girls in these districts could benefit from the vaccination programme.
The achievement is particularly significant as, like any new vaccination initiative, the campaign initially saw some parents seeking detailed information about the vaccine’s safety, necessity and effectiveness before giving their consent. Sustained communication and awareness efforts by the Health Department have helped address these concerns, resulting in a notable increase in the pace of vaccination.
A large number of girls are now being vaccinated every day in most districts of the State. In areas where coverage remains relatively low, the authorities are conducting targeted outreach campaigns, parent meetings, school-level interaction programmes and door-to-door counselling activities. These efforts are continuously bringing new beneficiaries into the programme and accelerating vaccination coverage.
HPV infection is recognised as the leading cause of cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine is an effective and scientifically proven means of preventing the disease. Its safety and effectiveness have been recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and various national and international health institutions. Consequently, HPV vaccination has become part of routine public health programmes in several countries around the world.
The Health Department has emphasised that the objective of the campaign is not merely to achieve a predetermined target, but to extend the protective shield of vaccination to every eligible girl. Guided by this approach, vaccination and public awareness activities are being undertaken simultaneously across the State. In the coming days, efforts will be intensified to ensure that the remaining eligible girls also receive the benefit of vaccination and that the campaign becomes even more effective.
The 100 per cent achievement recorded by districts such as Koriya and Balrampur, along with the steadily improving progress in other districts, reflects growing public participation in the campaign to protect daughters from cervical cancer and help secure a healthier future for them.
