A health worker, Ghulam Sughra, was attacked while administering the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine at a government girls’ school in Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab. The incident occurred in Chak 38, Kuthiala Sheikhan, where Sughra was part of a mobile vaccination team as part of Punjab’s ongoing HPV immunisation campaign.
According to the FIR filed at Kuthiala Sheikhan Police Station, the assailant, identified as Parveen, along with several accomplices, physically assaulted and verbally abused Sughra, disrupting the vaccination process.
The police have registered a case under Sections 186 (obstructing a public servant) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code. No arrests have been made yet, but authorities are working to identify all suspects and gather witness statements.
District Health Officer Dr. Muhammad Javed confirmed that the vaccination campaign would continue with added security for field teams. He emphasized the importance of the workers’ roles in delivering life-saving vaccines and vowed that such intimidation would not hinder the mission.
The HPV vaccination drive, launched earlier this year with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, aims to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer. However, resistance in rural areas due to misinformation has occasionally arisen. Medical associations have called for more community engagement and enhanced protection for health workers.
Punjab’s Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Khawaja Imran Nazir, condemned the assault, stating, “Lady health workers are our sisters and daughters. Their humiliation will never be tolerated.” Nazir warned that strict action would be taken against those involved and urged the public not to fall for false propaganda surrounding the vaccine.
The provincial health department has sought a detailed report from the CEO Health of Mandi Bahauddin, and police are continuing their efforts to apprehend the suspects.
