District hospital to launch campaign on March 16; around 10,500 adolescent girls to benefit across 32 health centres
Published on: March 15, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
The Rajnandgaon district administration will launch the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign on March 16, 2026, on the occasion of National Immunization Day. The programme will be formally inaugurated at the District Hospital in Rajnandgaon under the guidance of District Collector Jitendra Yadav.
As part of the initiative, a total of 32 health centres across the district have been identified for administering the HPV vaccine. Approximately 10,500 beneficiaries are expected to receive the vaccination during the campaign.
Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr. Netram Navratna stated that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women in India. According to the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) 2022, nearly 1.16 million new cancer cases are reported among women in the country every year.
He explained that the HPV vaccination programme has been introduced as a preventive measure against cervical cancer. Under the campaign, adolescent girls who have completed their 14th birthday but have not yet turned 15 will be eligible for the vaccination.
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The HPV vaccine will be provided free of cost at government health centres. Parents and guardians can register eligible girls through the U-WIN (YUVIN) portal, which has been developed for vaccination management.
Dr. Navratna further informed that minor side effects such as mild pain, swelling, redness at the injection site or low-grade fever may occur after vaccination. These symptoms are usually temporary and subside within two to three days with the help of paracetamol.
As a precautionary measure, all beneficiaries will be kept under observation in a designated observation room for 30 minutes after vaccination to ensure prompt management in case of any adverse reaction.
He emphasized that the HPV vaccine is completely safe and has already been administered to millions of people worldwide.
Vaccination sessions will be conducted in the presence of medical officers at the designated centres. For age verification, Aadhaar card or any other valid photo identity document will be accepted. In cases where identity proof is not available, a signed declaration by the parents or guardians will also be considered valid.
The health department has appealed to parents to ensure that eligible girls participate in the vaccination programme to protect themselves from cervical cancer and promote long-term health.
