A group of female health workers were attacked on Saturday, while the administrative vaccine targeted human papillomavirus (HPV) in the Mandi Bahaudd region of Punjab, the second incident in three days.
HPV vaccine was first launched in Pakistan in 2022 and now has bones roll out The nationwide is part of a routine immunization program to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer. However, the vaccine hesitate In Pakistan, this remains a major public health challenge driven by misinformation, security issues and distrust of the authorities.
In yesterday’s latest incident, the HPV vaccination team performed their duties at an informal education school in Ratuwal village within the scope of the Kathian Sheikhan police station, when a 55-year-old resident of the village entered the school and tried to attack the female health supervisor.
“Trying to attack the supervisor with a stick and lift the chair threatened serious consequences and used swear words,” according to suspect Kathian Sheikhan station house officer Sabir Iqbal Sindhu.
He added: “The sudden attack caused the school’s seal and the vacation process must be stopped immediately.”
Statement of the affected supervisor
Speech dawn Health director Shamim Anjum said on the phone that she and her team were forced to leave the school to save their lives.
She said she submitted a written application to the Kathian Sheikhan Police Department after the incident and has since registered the case.
However, she added: “The provincial health minister’s assurances for safety in the first incident on September 25 have not been achieved and the police have not taken practical action.”
The SHO said the complaints of the affected women had been registered. The first information report (FIR), a copy available dawn.comregistered under Article 186 (obstructing the public function of public officials) Pakistani Criminal Law.
According to the police, an action has been launched against the sister, and the sister will be arrested soon.
HPV vaccination team also Under attack A woman was beaten by a local on Thursday’s Mandi Bahauddin’s No. 38 record.
Punjab Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazeer took note of the incident and issued instructions to provide safety to female health workers. But health workers said that in view of Saturday’s attack, no implementation was carried out.
When passing dawn Representatives on the matter, Mandi Bahauddin’s health CEO declined to comment and hung up the phone.
Repeated violence can affect the performance of the campaign, as health workers say they will not be able to perform their duties unless there is police safety.
The HPV vaccination campaign is being divided into three phases: Punjab, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the capital region of Islamabad; Phase II will be extended to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2026; and Phase 3 will arrive in Balluchistan in 2027 and Gilgit-Baltistan in 2027.
The first phase of the campaign begins from September 15 to 27. The goal is to inoculate 90% of girls aged 9-14 years old in Phase 1 by the end of 2025 and maintain high coverage through routine immunization in the coming years.
