Cheepurupalli (Vizanagaram Dist.), Feb 28 (TNT) : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the statewide HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination program from Cheepurupalli in Vizianagaram district, on Saturday.
Addressing a public meeting highlighting the government’s health initiatives on the occasion, Naidu said the state is implementing two major programs — the HPV vaccination and the NTR Bharosa pension scheme.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s program, HPV vaccines are provided free of cost to prevent cancer, he said.
Citing health data, the CM said that cervical, breast, and oral cancers are increasing in India, with Andhra Pradesh seeing cervical cancer as a major concern.
According to 2021 reports, 29,379 cancer cases were recorded, projected to rise to 32,657 by 2025. Around 3.45 lakh girls aged 14–15 in the state, including 11,985 in Vizianagaram, are being prioritized for vaccination, he informed..
He stressed that HPV vaccination is critical to prevent cervical cancer and urged parents to ensure all eligible girls receive the vaccine.
The program uses 1,648 cold-chain points, and post-vaccination monitoring ensures safety, he said..
Naidu highlighted prior public health successes, such as polio eradication through vaccination campaigns, and noted that the state has screened 1.72 crore people for cancer, identifying risks of oral, breast, and cervical cancer in hundreds of thousands.
He emphasized that the government is taking comprehensive steps to prevent cancer and promote a healthy, wealthy, and happy society, underscoring that public health is key to improving citizens’ quality of life.
TNT KM
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