The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department, in collaboration with the Medical Emergency Resilience Foundation (MERF) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, held a media orientation workshop in Peshawar ahead of the second phase of the Cervical Cancer Prevention Campaign, scheduled for November 11–24.

The workshop aimed to familiarise media professionals with cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), its prevention and the importance of HPV vaccination. Sessions were led by health officials, including Dr Muhammad Arif, Peshawar EPI Coordinator; Dr. Qazi Taimor of the World Health Organisation (WHO); Dr. Saad, District Disease Surveillance Officer, and Muhammad Shoaib of MERF.

Participants were briefed on cervical cancer statistics, campaign objectives and vaccination arrangements. Global estimates for 2022 recorded around 660,000 new cases and 348,000 deaths from cervical cancer. In Pakistan, the disease accounts for more than 5,000 new cases annually.

The campaign is set to vaccinate 2.9 million girls aged 9 –14 across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including those attending schools and madrassas as well as out-of-school girls. In Peshawar, the target is 374,000 girls. Vaccines will be provided free of charge at schools, madrassas, community sites and government health facilities.

Dr Muhammad Arif stressed the importance of HPV vaccination in preventing cervical cancer and urged media professionals to share accurate information, address misconceptions and build public confidence in the campaign.