A total of 16,576 adolescent girls in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna will be administered the HPV vaccine for free to prevent cervical cancer. Among them, 12,982 will receive the vaccine through the Upazila Health Complex, and 3,594 adolescent girls will be vaccinated through the Ishwardi municipality.
Upazila Health Complex and municipality vaccination centre confirmed the matter. Both institutions have already completed all preparations for administering the vaccines.
Statistics Officer of Upazila Health Complex Naznin Afroze said 12,982 adolescent girls aged between 10 to 14 from 218 educational institutions in the upazila will be given the HPV vaccine. This 18-day program will begin on October 24 and conclude on November 10. In the first phase, vaccines will be administered over 10 days in schools and madrasas, while in the remaining 8 days, non-school-going girls will receive the vaccine at community clinics and other vaccination centers.
Meanwhile, the Ishwardi municipality will also begin its HPV vaccination program on October 24. Municipal Health Assistant Golam Faruq said that HPV vaccines will be administered to 3,594 adolescent girls at various educational institutions and temporary centers in the municipal area. Preparations have already been completed. According to him, each vaccination center will have one vaccine porter and two volunteers working to ensure smooth operations.
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Malekul Aftab Bhuiyan said the number of women dying from cervical cancer is second only to the number of women dying from breast cancer. The HPV vaccine is effective and safe in preventing cervical cancer in women. He stated that the official 18-day HPV vaccination program will begin on October 24, with all necessary preparations already completed. A total of 12,982 adolescent girls from 218 educational institutions in the upazila will receive the vaccine in phases. Each vaccination center will have one vaccine porter and two volunteers to assist with the process.
