Karnataka to vaccinate girls aged 14 for cervical cancer in five districts for free

Bengaluru: Karnataka will vaccinate all girls aged 14 for cervical cancer in five districts of the Kalyana Karnataka region free of cost. A targeted drive will be held to vaccinate girls who turn 14 in these districts every year, minister for health and family welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Wednesday.

“This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to leveraging HPV vaccination to eliminate cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among women after breast cancer,” Rao said at an event, Cervical Cancer Elimination Movement: From Awareness to Action, held in Bengaluru.

The programme is being carried out in collaboration with Artist for Her, HDR Healthcare Foundation, HealthCare Sector Skill Council, ECHO India, Association of Healthcare Providers and the Karnataka State Obstetrics and Gynaecology Association.


Rao said the state government is considering a proposal submitted by Artist for Her and others to expand the vaccination drive to Chikkaballapur district. “Those screened and diagnosed will receive a 90% treatment success rate. I will expedite this process. Let’s finalise and launch the programme," the health minister said.

Referring to hesitation among people to get screened for cervical cancer, he said health camps under the Gruha Arogya Scheme have helped screen more than 10,000 women. These programmes have also helped spread awareness and encouraged women to get checked at health sub-centres, he said.