HT Correspondent
GOALPARA, May 23: The Goalpara district administration, under the supervision of District Commissioner Prodip Timung, has intensified efforts to popularise the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme aimed at girls in the 14–15 years age group.
The administration has been organising awareness meetings in different parts of the district to ensure successful implementation of the vaccination programme.
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Officials stated that the administration is facing challenges due to misinformation being circulated by certain sections claiming that the vaccine has adverse side effects.
In response, the district administration has instructed the Health and Education Departments to conduct extensive awareness programmes to ensure that parents and students are not misled.
Meetings have also reportedly been held with representatives of private schools regarding the issue.
As part of the awareness campaign, a programme was organised on Saturday at Goalpara Jatiya Vidyalaya at Moilaputa, where girl students from nearby schools participated.
Addressing the gathering, DC Prodip Timung, who is also Chairman of the District Health Society, spoke about cancers associated with HPV infection and stressed the importance of vaccination for protection against such diseases.
He stated that the market price of the vaccine is around ₹9,000, but the government is providing it free of cost to girls aged between 14 and 15 years in the state.
He urged parents and students to take advantage of the initiative to safeguard the health and future of young girls.
The awareness meeting was also attended by Jagadish Brahma, District Immunization Officer Dr Joydeep Bhattacharya, District Programme Officer for Secondary Education Gun Hazarika and local social workers.
