Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department Engages Religious Leaders to Boost HPV Vaccination Initiative

PESHAWAR: The Health Department has enlisted the support of local clerics from various schools of thought to facilitate the upcoming human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign slated for November.

A workshop organized in partnership with UNICEF, the Mutahida Ulema Board, and Tanzeematul Madaris aimed to raise awareness and promote cervical cancer prevention through vaccination, according to a press release.

The HPV vaccination initiative conducted last September targeted girls aged 9 to 14 in Punjab, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamabad. Officials reported that approximately 2.9 million girls will receive the vaccine, comprising 1.6 million school‑attending girls and 1.3 million out‑of‑school girls.

The gathering brought together prominent religious scholars from across the province, representing all major schools of thought—Deobandi, Barelvi, Ahle Hadith, and Shia—as noted in the press release.

The primary goal of the workshop was to foster trust, enhance coordination, and encourage collaborative efforts between religious leaders and health experts to safeguard women and girls from cervical cancer.

During the discussions, the ulama endorsed the initiative and offered valuable recommendations to support the campaign.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2026

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