PESHAWAR, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 12th Aug, 2026) A one-day orientation session for media on the cervical cancer prevention campaign, scheduled to be launched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in November 2026, stressed the need for journalists to play an effective role in educating public about importance of vaccination in preventing cervical cancer caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
The session was organized here on Wednesday by the Health Department through the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Deputy Director EPI KP Mehtab Khan, World Health Organization HPV consultant Dr. Rizwan, UNICEF representative Dr. Kamran Qureshi, Deputy Director Communication EPI, Dr. Muhammad Ayaz and office-bearers of the Paediatric Association attended the session.
The experts briefed media representatives about the HPV vaccine, its effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer and importance of administering the vaccine at the recommended age. They also discussed common misconceptions and concerns surrounding HPV vaccination and emphasized the need for evidence-based information to counter misinformation.
The participants said media could play a crucial role in building public confidence in the vaccination campaign by disseminating accurate and scientifically supported information. They urged journalists to highlight the importance of HPV vaccination and help parents and communities understand that vaccination could significantly reduce the burden of cervical cancer.
In his welcome address, Deputy Director Communication EPI Dr. Muhammad Ayaz said the cervical cancer prevention campaign would be conducted from November 2 to 14, 2026 targeting around 2.9 million (2,934,481) girls aged 9 to 14 years.
He said the girls targeted for HPV vaccination constituted around 6.7 percent of the total population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which stands at 43,681,433.
Dr. Ayaz said creating mass awareness was essential for protecting the maximum number of girls from the life-threatening disease, for which the media had to play an effective role.
WHO Consultant on HPV, Dr. Rizwan apprised newsmen that more than 5,000 cases of cervical cancer were reported annually in Pakistan, making it the third leading cause of cancer among women.
Among these reported cases, around 3,000 deaths were recorded, reflecting the high mortality associated with cervical cancer, which could largely be prevented through timely HPV vaccination and regular screening.
He said the figure of more than 5,000 cases was based on data collected from 17 health facilities providing cancer treatment services and added that if comprehensive data were collected through broader screening and surveillance, the actual number of cervical cancer cases in the country could be significantly higher.
Dr. Rizwan said that due to a lack of awareness about the threat posed by cervical cancer, the screening rate in the country remained very low, at less than one percent of the population.
He said, according to global statistics, the incidence of cervical cancer in low-income countries was 16.1 cases per 100,000, compared with 6.9 cases per 100,000 in higher-income countries.
He said the higher burden of cervical cancer in low-income countries was largely linked to limited awareness and access to preventive healthcare.
Dr. Rizwan emphasized that the situation could be improved through effective media engagement, including news stories, television and radio bulletins, and digital and social media campaigns to disseminate accurate information about HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening.
He also informed that HPV had more than 200 types, of which types 16 and 18 had been identified as high-risk strains responsible for a significant proportion of cervical cancer cases.
In Pakistan, he said, a bivalent HPV vaccine had been arranged for administration to the targeted 2.9 million girls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Speaking on the occasion, UNICEF representative Dr. Kamran Qureshi informed newsmen that around 162 countries had already introduced HPV vaccination into their national immunization programmes.
In Pakistan, he said, HPV vaccination was incorporated into the national immunization programme in September 2025.
He said the highest number of cervical cancer cases were reported in Punjab, followed by Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
He urged journalists to play their role in improving public health by countering misconceptions and misinformation about vaccination.
Regarding the strategy for cervical cancer vaccination campaign, Dr. Kamran said girls would be vaccinated at schools and religious seminaries.
For out-of-school girls, he said, community health workers would be engaged to reach the targeted population at their homes.
He said all female District education Officers and District Health Officers had been taken on board to make the campaign successful at educational institutions, while health teams at the union council level would facilitate vaccination teams.
To address parental hesitancy, Dr. Kamran said Refusal Conversion Committees would be constituted to hold follow-up meetings with parents who initially refused vaccination and address their concerns.
The speakers emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts among the Health Department, health professionals, development partners and media to ensure successful rollout of campaign in the province.
