look news india
New Delhi, March 22 (HS). In the first innovative initiative of its kind in the country for the girls who are victims of sexual exploitation, a free HPV vaccination camp was organized in Okhla, New Delhi for the prevention of cervical cancer for these girls who are victims of sexual exploitation and girls from very poor families. During this period, 135 girls between the age of nine to 14 years were vaccinated.
The camp was organized by India Child Protection Fund (ICPF), an organization working for the safety of children, under the guidance of Dr. B. of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). R. Ambedkar Institute in collaboration with Rotary Cancer Hospital (Preventive Oncology) and Rotary Club, Delhi. Many researches show that girls who are victims of sexual abuse are at higher risk of cervical cancer, but the HPV vaccine given to prevent it is very expensive, which is out of the reach of poor families.
Therefore, ICPF took the initiative for this and under the supervision of Dr. Pallavi Shukla, Assistant Professor in the Cancer Department of AIIMS, her team members Dr. Sujata Pathak and Dr. Prateek took up the responsibility of administering the vaccine.
One-fourth of the women suffering from cancer worldwide are suffering from cervical cancer, while the number of women suffering from cancer between the age of 15 to 44 years is the second most affected by cervical cancer. About 90 percent of cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV infection during sex. That is why the risk of cervical cancer is very high in girls who are victims of sexual abuse. In such a situation, India Child Protection Fund, an organization working against child trafficking, child marriage and child sexual exploitation, has asked girls who are victims of sexual abuse and poor girls living in unsafe conditions at risk of sexual violence to get the HPV vaccine. Took the initiative.
Girls were called along with their parents and guardians to get vaccinated. During this, all of them were made aware about the causes of cervical cancer and ways to prevent it. HPV requires two vaccinations six months apart.
Therefore, ICPF, Rotary Club and AIIMS took a written commitment from the parents of the girls to get the next vaccination after six months. Additionally, they were assured that if there is another child in their family between the ages of nine and 14, she will also be given free HPV vaccination. During the camp, arrangements were also made to bring these girls and send them home.
ICPF Executive Director Dr. K. C. George, while thanking AIIMS and Rotary Club for their support in providing HPV vaccination of girls suffering from sexual abuse for the first time in the country, said that this is a commendable effort towards saving the lives of girls who are at risk of cervical cancer. He said that all the NGOs engaged in the protection of children should take such steps so that the lives of girls who are victims of sexual exploitation and at risk of sexual exploitation can be made safe.