Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari launches HPV drive targeting 7.5 lakh girls

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari inaugurated the HPV, or human papillomavirus, vaccination program at Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Hospital in Kolkata.

According to a press note issued by the BJP, the statewide drive has been launched to help prevent cervical cancer and is being carried out with the cooperation of the Union health ministry and under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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A brisk start at hundreds of health centres

The inaugural event was attended by Rajya Sabha MP and state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya; chief secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal; Bidhannagar MLA Dr. Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay; MLA Dr. Indranil Khan; and principal secretary of the health and family welfare department Narayan Swaroop Nigam, among others.

The note described the program as a major public welfare initiative and said the first phase began simultaneously at 235 health centers across the state, including medical colleges, sub-divisional hospitals, and rural hospitals.

Targets and vaccine coverage

The vaccination campaign is meant for adolescent girls and will continue for three months.

It set a target of providing complete vaccination coverage to nearly 7.5 lakh girls. The note also said the Union government has already supplied 772,650 doses of the vaccine free of cost to the state. Over the coming days, the number of vaccination centers will be increased from 235 to 880, it added.

The vaccine could play an effective role in reducing the incidence of the disease by nearly 93% to 100%, as cervical cancer is the second most dangerous cancer affecting women.

These figures and claims were presented in the press note as part of the case for the new vaccination drive.

New pledges emerge from the dais

Alongside the vaccination launch, the press note said Adhikari made several announcements on health care infrastructure and public health access.

These included the inauguration of a new 100-bed ward at SSKM Hospital, measures to reduce unnecessary referrals from state hospitals in Kolkata, and a directive that private hospitals that received land from the state government at a nominal price will have to reserve 15% of beds for economically weaker sections.

The note said the state has been allocated ₹2100 crore under the National Health Mission, of which ₹527 crore has already been received. It also said that under Ayushman Bharat, more than 6 crore people from 1 crore 26 lakh families in the state will be entitled to free treatment up to ₹5 lakh, with participating hospitals to be named Ayushman Mandir.

In addition, 467 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras are operational in the state, and medicines for cancer and other serious illnesses under the Amrit project will be made available at subsidies of 50% to 80%.

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Welfare measures and governance push

The press note further said a 24-hour control room and live monitoring system will be introduced at Swasthya Bhavan to curb middlemen and ensure doctors’ presence, under a zero-tolerance policy.

It also said free bus travel for women on government buses will begin next Monday, while the first installment of ₹3000 under the Annapurna Yojana will be transferred directly to eligible women’s bank accounts from next Wednesday.

The state budget will be presented on 22 June, the note added.