In an effort to protect young girls from cervical cancer, a disease that claims many lives in India each year, a large HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination drive was launched in Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. The event was inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel on Wednesday. The initiative, aimed at school-going girls, was organized by the Akanksha Samiti, a non-governmental organization (NGO) working to empower underprivileged women and children in the areas of education, health, and skill development.
On the first day of the campaign, 506 girls, aged nine years and older, were vaccinated with the HPV vaccine. The girls also received health kits as part of the initiative. Governor Patel emphasized the importance of protecting children from preventable diseases, stating, “Children are a reflection of God. Protecting them from preventable diseases is our moral duty.”
Patel also encouraged businesses to contribute to health and education through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, stressing that a healthy and educated population is key to the vision of a developed India.
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Along with the vaccination drive, the governor distributed laptops, tablets, tricycles, and toolkits to selected beneficiaries. A cultural program by schoolchildren and anganwadi workers, along with a screening of an awareness film, took place to highlight the importance of the HPV vaccine.
The campaign is part of a larger effort by Akanksha Samiti, led by Dr. Ankita Raj, with support from Felix Hospital, Sanrakshan Cancer Care Foundation, Rotary Club, and AEPC. Dr. Raj emphasized that this campaign is just the beginning and that the goal is to ensure every eligible girl gets vaccinated and that every family understands the importance of the HPV vaccine.
District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma spoke about the importance of the vaccination, stating, “This is not just about immunization. It’s about securing a healthier future for our daughters. Every vaccinated child brings us one step closer to eliminating cervical cancer.”
The vaccination drive was also supported by several senior dignitaries, including parliamentarian Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Noida MLA Pankaj Singh, Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh, Noida authority CEO Lokesh M, and police commissioner Laxmi Singh.
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The initiative also saw the signing of an agreement between the district administration and Rotary Club Okhla (Delhi) for building new anganwadi centers in the area.
This vaccination drive aims to ensure every girl in the region is protected from cervical cancer and to spread awareness about the life-saving HPV vaccine.
