Bhubaneswar: The government on Saturday launched the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign at the State level in Bhubaneswar and reinforced its commitment to adolescent girls’ health and cancer prevention.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide campaign from Ajmer, Rajasthan, earlier in the day, giving the initiative a national push.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the state-level programme at Krushi Bhawan and directed officials to ensure full coverage of eligible beneficiaries across the State. Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Parliamentary Affairs, Electronics & IT, also joined the event.
The campaign will vaccinate girls aged 14 to 15 years against HPV, a leading cause of cervical cancer.
The State government will implement the vaccination drive across districts and ensure that all eligible adolescent girls receive protection under the programme, the CM said in a post on X. Health authorities will coordinate with schools and local health centres to streamline the rollout.
Odisha aligned its State programme with the national rollout to strengthen preventive healthcare and reduce cervical cancer cases in the future, Mahaling said in a post on X.
During the event, the CM also flagged off the remaining 28 ambulances out of the sanctioned 428 new emergency vehicles for the State. The government had already deployed 400 ambulances in two phases. With the latest launch, Odisha has now operationalised all 428 ambulances to enhance emergency medical response.
The expanded ambulance fleet will improve response time and deliver timely medical assistance in both urban and rural areas. The government aims to strengthen health infrastructure and ensure accessible emergency services for citizens.
Ekamra MLA Babu Singh and senior departmental officials attended the programme.
