Shillong: Meghalaya hit a wall with its HPV vaccination campaign. Only 1,841 girls out of a targeted 39,796 have received the shot. That leaves coverage at a meager 5 percent. National Health Mission Director Ramkumar S released these figures Wednesday. The program launched in February and runs until December.
Cervical cancer remains a massive threat here. It ranks as the second leading cancer among women and makes up 10 percent of all female cancer diagnoses in the state. Oesophageal cancer leads at 22.3 percent. Breast cancer follows at 8 percent. Data from the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research confirms these grim statistics.
Screening rates are even worse. An ICMR study shows a mere 0.6 percent of women in Meghalaya have ever been screened for the disease. This falls drastically short of the WHO target of 70 percent. Officials say the HPV vaccine remains the best defense against cervical cancer if given at age 14 before exposure occurs.
The government is now moving to beat back misinformation. Officials clarified the vaccine does not cause infertility. "The HPV vaccine is WHO-approved, has been used safely in over 100 countries for a decade and is a key part of India’s national immunisation efforts."
Health workers are heading into schools to talk to parents and students. The state is also recruiting faith leaders to spread the word. They are handing out leaflets written in local languages. The State Cancer Society and NHM plan to start screening adult women soon. Eligible girls can get the free dose at government health facilities if they bring parental consent. Families should reach out to ASHA workers or ANMs to schedule the shot.
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