South Waziristan Lower health officials brief Wana journalists on the upcoming HPV vaccination campaign for eligible girls aged 9 to 14 from Nov. 11 to 24.
WANA: The District Health Office in Wana held an awareness session for journalists from the District Press Club Wana on Thursday to highlight the importance of the upcoming human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign scheduled for Nov. 11-24.
The session aimed to inform journalists about the campaign’s objectives and benefits, promote public awareness and encourage parents to ensure that eligible girls receive the vaccine.
Speaking at the session, District Health Officer (DHO) South Waziristan Lower Dr. Adnan Rashid Dawar said the HPV vaccination campaign was an important preventive measure to protect girls’ health and reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer in the future.
He urged journalists to support the health department by sharing accurate information, raising awareness about the campaign and helping parents understand the benefits of vaccination.
Dr. Dawar explained that the HPV vaccine is administered to eligible girls aged 9 to 14 to help protect them against cervical cancer. He said certain types of human papillomavirus are a major cause of cervical cancer and that vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of developing the disease later in life.
He emphasized that timely vaccination, public awareness and preventive healthcare measures were essential to protecting girls’ health and promoting a healthier society.
The DHO said informing parents in advance about the campaign and providing them with reliable medical information would help them make informed decisions about their children’s health. He also stressed the importance of addressing misconceptions and countering misinformation to build public confidence in the vaccine.
Highlighting the role of the media, Dr. Dawar said journalists could help communicate the campaign’s objectives, benefits and schedule to a wider audience. He expressed hope that media professionals would report on the campaign responsibly and accurately, enabling more parents to access reliable information.
He appealed to parents to ensure that their eligible daughters receive the HPV vaccine during the Nov. 11-24 campaign and to cooperate with vaccination teams working under the health department’s guidance.
Dr. Dawar added that protecting girls’ health was a shared responsibility involving parents, the media, health professionals and other members of society. He said coordinated efforts and effective communication would be important to the campaign’s success.
According to the DHO, the District Health Office South Waziristan Lower is committed to increasing public awareness, strengthening parental confidence and encouraging informed decisions about HPV vaccination.
The session also highlighted the importance of seeking guidance from qualified medical professionals whenever parents have questions or concerns about the vaccine, rather than relying on unverified information.
Dr. Dawar expressed hope that journalists and other relevant stakeholders would play an active role in spreading the campaign’s message so that more eligible girls could benefit from the preventive measure.
He urged parents to take an important step toward protecting their daughters’ health by ensuring timely HPV vaccination and helping reduce the future risk of cervical cancer.
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