Launching the HPV Vaccination Campaign to Protect Every Girl, Every Future from Cervical Cancer

Peshawar, November 11, 2026: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign to prevent Cervical Cancer has officially commenced across six districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, marking a significant milestone in the province’s efforts to prevent cervical cancer among adolescent girls.

Implemented by the Medical Emergency Resilience Foundation (MERF) in close collaboration with the Health Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the campaign covers Peshawar, Karak, Khyber, Kurram, Nowshera, and Mardan. The initiative is supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, through MannionDaniels.

The campaign aims to protect approximately 2.9 million girls aged 9 to 14 years across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including nearly 1.6 million school going girls and 1.3 million out of school girls, by providing them with the safe and effective HPV vaccine. The vaccine offers long term protection against Human Papillomavirus, the leading cause of cervical cancer.

Vaccination teams have been deployed to schools, health facilities, communities, and hard to reach areas to ensure equitable access for every eligible girl. The campaign also includes extensive community mobilization and awareness activities to increase public understanding of HPV vaccination and encourage participation.

As part of the project, MERF is implementing a comprehensive Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) strategy that engages parents, teachers, religious scholars, community leaders, media professionals, and civil society organizations. Through culturally appropriate messaging and community engagement, the initiative aims to build confidence in the HPV vaccine and improve vaccine uptake among eligible girls.

In addition to community outreach, the project strengthens advocacy with religious, political, and media stakeholders to generate broad public support for cervical cancer prevention. System strengthening interventions will further enhance alignment with the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), improve the capacity of healthcare providers, and reinforce community feedback and accountability mechanisms to ensure effective service delivery.

MERF remains committed to supporting the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in expanding access to life saving immunization services and protecting adolescent girls from preventable diseases. The successful implementation of the HPV Vaccination Campaign represents another important step towards improving public health outcomes and securing a healthier future for girls across the province.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that all eligible girls between 9 and 14 years of age receive the HPV vaccine during the campaign period.