K-P plans HPV drive for 2.9 million girls from November 2026

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has announced that it will launch a province-wide HPV vaccination campaign in November 2026, with a target of providing free shots to around 2.9 million girls aged 9 to 14 in an effort to prevent cervical cancer.

According to the department’s plan, the campaign will cover both school-going and out-of-school children. The target includes 1.6 million girls enrolled in schools and another 1.3 million who are not in school. Officials said preparations for the initiative have been completed.

School and community-based rollout

The department has adopted a two-track strategy to widen coverage across the province. Girls attending schools will be vaccinated through special sessions arranged at government and private educational institutions. For those who are out of school, the programme will rely on community outreach sessions, mobile vaccination teams in remote and underserved locations, and fixed vaccination centres at public health facilities.

To manage implementation, the Health Department has put in place an institutional coordination structure. A Provincial Steering Committee led by the Secretary of Health will oversee the campaign, while a Technical Committee headed by the Director General Health Services will be responsible for technical planning, execution and coordination among departments.

Representatives from several government departments have been nominated to support the campaign, including Elementary and Secondary Education, Higher Education, the Private Schools Regulatory Authority, Auqaf, Social Welfare, Local Government and Information. Provincial and district focal persons from the Education Department and other relevant agencies have also been appointed.

Medical support and public awareness

The campaign is being backed by medical bodies including the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan and the Pakistan Paediatric Association, which are providing technical support. The department said their involvement reflects wider support within the medical community for the vaccine’s role in preventing cervical cancer.

A communication and community engagement plan has also been prepared ahead of the rollout. Information, Education and Communication materials such as posters, banners, brochures, radio messages and social media content will be distributed before and during the campaign to raise awareness. Civil society organisations have also been involved to address misconceptions, improve public confidence and encourage parents and guardians to have eligible girls vaccinated on time.

Cervical cancer burden

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The disease is mainly caused by persistent infection with the Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, which spreads through skin-to-skin contact. Globally, more than 350,000 women die from cervical cancer each year, with most deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries where screening and treatment facilities are limited.