In a landmark public health initiative, Jing'an County in Jiangxi Province has launched a free HPV vaccination campaign for middle school girls, aligning with a national proposal to combat cervical cancer. NPC deputy Hu Xiaoqing emphasized the program's significance during China's annual legislative sessions, calling it \"a critical step toward eliminating this preventable disease.\"
The pilot project comes as health experts amplify calls for early immunization. Li Longyu, vice director of the National Cervical Cancer Consortium, noted: \"Vaccinating adolescents provides up to 90% protection against HPV-related cancers later in life.\" The initiative could serve as a blueprint for nationwide implementation, particularly in rural areas with limited healthcare access.
With cervical cancer ranking as China's seventh most common female cancer according to WHO data, the campaign highlights growing momentum for gender-responsive healthcare policies. Similar successful models in countries like Australia and Rwanda have shown near-eradication of cervical cancer through school-based vaccination programs.
Reference(s):
My Proposal: HPV vaccine campaign helps prevent cervical cancer
cgtn.com
