The World Health Organization (WHO) is partnering with the Government of Pakistan to train over 49 000 health workers for the upcoming introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine planned from 15 to 27 September. The campaign will be a historic milestone to prevent cervical cancer in the country, targeting for the first time 13 million girls aged 9 to 14 years across Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad Capital Territory and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Cervical cancer is the third most prevalent cancer among women in Pakistan. With a female population of 73.8 million aged 15 years and older at risk, the country reports over 5 000 new cases of cervical cancer in women annually. Almost 3200 of them (64%) die from the disease. The mortality rate, one of the highest in South Asia, is primarily attributed to delayed diagnoses and limited access to screening programs.

A recent WHO study conducted across 18 healthcare facilities in Pakistan (2021-2023) documented 1580 cases of cervical cancer, suggesting there is a significant underestimation of the disease burden due to low screening rates and lack of a national cervical cancer registry. Modelling data indicate that, in the absence of vaccination, the cervical cancer disease burden in Pakistan will increase at least 3-fold over the next 7 decades.