West Bengal has launched a free HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination drive for teenage girls studying in madrasas across the state, expanding a cervical cancer prevention programme that began on 30 May, senior government officials confirmed on Saturday, 13 June. The initiative follows the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's assumption of power in the state and is being rolled out under the Centre's national free vaccination framework.

How the Programme Works

The madrasa-focused HPV vaccination campaign will be coordinated between district administrations and the state's Health and Family Welfare Department, in line with established guidelines and standard operating procedures. Concerned officials have already been issued formal instructions to operationalise the drive. The vaccine is available to any girl above the age of 14–15 years.

The programme was formally launched at Bidhannagar Sub-District Hospital in Salt Lake, Kolkata. The state government has expressed hope that extending the campaign to madrasa students will also strengthen health awareness among that demographic.

Vaccine Supply and Scale

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that the Centre has dispatched 7 lakh doses of the cervical cancer vaccine to the state. The rollout represents West Bengal's entry into a national effort that has been underway in other states, with the BJP-led state government describing the programme as a priority health intervention for adolescent girls.

Why Cervical Cancer Demands Urgent Action

Cervical cancer remains one of the most pressing public health challenges for women in India. According to available data, 6 lakh new cervical cancer cases are diagnosed globally every year, with the annual death toll standing at approximately 3.4 lakh. In India, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women, with 14 new cases per 1,00,000 women recorded annually and a death rate of 9 per lakh. Doctors note that timely HPV vaccination can reduce the risk of cervical cancer by approximately 75 to 80 per cent.

This comes amid persistent social stigma around the disease, which has historically delayed diagnosis and treatment in many communities. Reaching students in madrasas — a segment that may have had limited access to mainstream public health outreach — is seen as a step toward more equitable coverage.

Broader Context

The Centre has been emphasising free HPV vaccination as a cornerstone of its women's health strategy. West Bengal's inclusion in this programme, particularly the targeted madrasa outreach, marks a notable expansion of the drive's reach. Health officials have indicated that the programme's success will depend on sustained coordination between district-level health teams and school and madrasa administrations across the state.