Islamabad: Parliamentarians from different political parties and senior health leaders Wednesday vowed to counter misinformation and extend full support to Pakistan’s first-ever national Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, stressing that protecting adolescent girls against cervical cancer is a collective responsibility of government, parliament, and society at large.
Speaking at a high-level advocacy seminar organized by Dopasi Foundation under the leadership of the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) and with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal declared that myths and propaganda must not derail the life-saving initiative.
“Our duty is to sincerely put all our efforts into ensuring this campaign secures the future of our daughters and sisters. The HPV vaccine is completely safe, and misinformation must not distract us from our responsibility. A single dose costs nearly Rs. 7,500, yet the government is providing it free of cost. I urge all parents to vaccinate their daughters,” he said.
The seminar brought together Members of Parliament, senior health officials, and development partners to highlight the importance of eliminating cervical cancer, a disease that kills nearly 3,000 women in Pakistan every year.
Among those present were Dr. Shazia Soomro, Dr. Shahida Rehmani, Shehla Raza, and Farah Naz Akbar, while Asia Tanoli and Kiran Baloch joined virtually. Health leaders including Dr. Khurram Shahzad (FDI), Dr. Syeda Rashida Batool (DHO Islamabad), Ms. Huma Khawar (MannionDaniels), and Dr. Rozina Khalid (WHO) also took part.
A key highlight was a presentation by Dopasi Foundation’s CEO, Kinz-ul-Eman, who shared the foundation’s three-pronged strategy in the Islamabad Capital Territory: community awareness, parliamentary advocacy, and training healthcare providers.
She detailed outreach through schools, hospitals, media, and a dedicated HPV awareness podcast series. She stressed the critical role of parliamentarians in countering myths and ensuring smooth implementation of the campaign, which makes Pakistan the 151st country to introduce the HPV vaccine.
To strengthen the campaign’s visibility, Dopasi Foundation also engaged prominent social media influencers earlier this week to amplify authentic messages online and challenge false claims about the vaccine.
Parliamentarians pledged bipartisan support for the initiative. Dr. Shahida Rehmani highlighted the urgency of addressing misconceptions at schools and within communities, while Farah Naz Akbar, Parliamentary Secretary for Education, urged citizens to act responsibly in the digital space.
“We must be vigilant about what we hear, watch, and share on social and digital media. Fighting misinformation is everyone’s responsibility,” she said.
The event concluded with participants — including lawmakers, health officials, and civil society representatives — signing a pledge wall to commit their support to the vaccination campaign. They agreed that eliminating cervical cancer in Pakistan will require strong political will, community engagement, and collective responsibility.
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