Taking a significant step towards women’s health in Sindh, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Sindh in collaboration with UNICEF Pakistan, World Health Organisation, JHPIEGO organized an advocacy seminar on Introduction of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine recently at a local hotel in Karachi. Health Minister Sindh, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho was the Chief Guest while Secretary Health, Rehan Iqbal Baloch was the Guest of Honour. It was attended by Dr. Fouzia Khan from the Sindh Education Department beside leading pediatricians, gynecologists and oncologists and students of Indus Nursing School.

Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho sharing her views on the occasion said that Human Papilloma Virus infects women and causes cervical cancer. The health leadership in Sindh is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of the population with a special focus on protecting females from such preventable diseases. The HPV vaccine plays a crucial role in preventing cervical cancer ensuring a healthier future for women across our province. She announced that Sindh government would launch HPV vaccine campaign in Sindh and girls aged 9 to 14 years would be vaccinated from next year. Furthermore, the HPV vaccine should be administered to all women up to 50 years of age but it would be compulsory for young girls of adolescent age. She termed HPV vaccine safe for the prevention of cervical cancer as it has no side effects adding that second dose of the vaccine would be administered after 6 months of the first dose.

Secretary Health, Rehan Iqbal Baloch in his remarks said that HPV vaccine is a fundamental right for women. He stressed the importance of training community leaders, LHVs and RMOs involved in antenatal care to conduct pap smears for every woman, helping to protect them from this painful disease. He said that special teams will visit schools to administer the HPV vaccine to girls aged 9 to 14, along with providing vaccination cards. Unfortunately, there are currently not enough vaccines or funding to support premarital vaccination, though it is in a strategic plan and would be in future.

EPI Project Director, Dr. Muhammad Naeem welcomed the participants including gynecologists, oncologists, pediatricians, polio team members, academia, nursing schools, NGOs, CSOs, UNICEF, WHO, and Sindh Education department representatives. He emphasized HPV vaccination as a health department priority, highlighting ongoing efforts to protect children and women from preventable diseases. Leading Gynecologist, Prof. Sadia Ahsan Pal from Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologist of Pakistan (SOGP) spoke on HPV Qualitative Research and Social Listening, Dr. Muhammad Faisal Khalil, SBC Specialist UNICEF Islamabad spoke on HPV Qualitative Research and Social Listening – Insights and Recommendations for Pakistan, Dr. M. Khalid Shafi, Secretary General, Pakistan Pediatric Association spoke on Inclusion of New Vaccine in EPI HPV Challenges, Prof. Aliya Aziz, Senior Oncologist, AKU Karachi spoke on HPV: Insights from Research, Local Data, and Clinical Practice, Consultant Gynaecologist Prof. Halima Yasmin spoke on Pakistan HPV Insight – Vaccine Plan Perspective, Ms. Fahmida Khan, Gender and Development Specialist – UNICEF spoke on Sehatmand Beti Sehatmand Gharana (Healthy Daughter- Healthy Family), Aqeel Sarfraz, SBC Consultant – EPI Punjab spoke on Role of Media – Experience from Punjab whereas Dr. Syed Kamal Asghar, Health Specialist, UNICEF Office Sindh, Dr. Sara Salman, Head of Operation, Sub Office WHO Sindh, Dr. Waqar Mehmood Memon, Director General, Health Services Sindh and Dr. Sohail Raza Shaikh, Additional Director EPI Sindh also spoke on the occasion.