HPV immunisation of adolescent girls can reduce chances of cervical cancer

KARACHI: As the Chief Guest, Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister for Health and Population Welfare of Sindh, attended the opening ceremony of the IPVS Symposium at ICCBS, Karachi University.

Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, Patron in Chief of the ICCBS, Dr Khalid M. Iraqi, Vice Chancellor of Karachi University, Mr Rudiger Lotz, Consul General of Germany, Dr Thomas Iffner, Director Medical Virology Institute, Tubingen University, and Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the ICCBS, were among the other renowned members of the panel.

Pakistan is a hotbed for HPV infection with an increased risk of cervical cancer, the conference warned. As sexual education is forbidden in the nation, this presents an additional barrier to preventing this otherwise avoidable illness among women.

As a single agent causes this disease, it is one of the most preventable cancers; nonetheless, it is one of the most prevalent cancers due to a lack of immunisation and knowledge. The IPVS Symposium would allow its members to share resources, technologies, data, and research on the most effective means of eradicating this malignancy worldwide.

Dr Atta ur Rehman also discussed MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses), an ever-expanding, cost-free resource that gives thousands of hours of lectures at the high school and university level and has enhanced access to education.

Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister for Health and Population Welfare, expressed her delight that this programme comprises three sessions with famous women physicians, media personnel, and women health advocates.

In addition to giving them food, water, and shelter, they protect them from life-threatening diseases such as dengue, malaria, gastroenteritis, water-borne infections, and many others.

Azra Pechuho stated that she is aware that HPV immunisation of adolescent girls can significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer in women and that the Ministry is launching a well-structured immunisation initiative to eliminate this preventable cancer and reduce cervical cancer-related deaths.

The Health Department has begun screening in several maternity centres in Sindh's megacities, and she anticipates international partners' guidance and technical assistance in these efforts.