Review of HPV Vaccination Campaign and Routine Immunization in AssamHealth Minister Calls for Strengthening Vaccination Efforts.

Dalim Phukan.
Hills Love News,Guwahati, September 30: Significant progress has been made in the implementation of the HPV vaccination campaign in Assam. More than 3 lakh eligible adolescent girls have so far been administered the HPV vaccine in the state, achieving a coverage rate of approximately 93 per cent against the state’s target of 3.27 lakh. Through continued efforts at the district level, the state is moving towards achieving the target of 100 per cent vaccination by covering all eligible beneficiaries.
A two-day state-level review and orientation meeting on the HPV Vaccination Campaign and Routine Immunization was held in Guwahati on September 28 and 29, 2026. Organised by the Directorate of Health Services (FW), Assam, the meeting was attended by district-level officials and healthcare teams from all 35 districts of Assam, who reviewed the progress of the campaign and discussed various challenges encountered during its implementation.
The HPV vaccination campaign is being implemented through designated government health institutions under the initiatives of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Directorate of Health Services (FW), and NHM, Assam. Simultaneously, efforts are continuing to strengthen routine immunization services in the state, expand vaccination coverage and ensure the timely vaccination of all eligible beneficiaries.
During the inaugural session, Dr A. K. Barman, Vice-Chancellor of Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences; Dr Lakshmanan S., IAS, Mission Director, NHM, Assam; Shri K. Talukdar, ACS, Director of Health Services (FW), Assam; Dr M. K. Choudhury, Director of Medical Education, Assam; and Dr A. C. Baishya, Principal, Nalbari Medical College and Hospital and Principal Investigator of the TICA project, were present.
The concluding session was attended by Shri Ashok Singhal, Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Assam. Also present were Dr P. Ashok Babu, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare; Dr Lakshmanan S., Mission Director, NHM, Assam; Shri Kamaljit Talukdar, Director of Health Services (FW), Assam; and Dr Professor (Dr) Babul Kumar Bezbaruah, Principal, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, along with senior health officials, district-level health teams, faculty members of medical colleges and representatives of partner organisations.
As part of a significant programme during the concluding session, districts that had demonstrated outstanding performance in the HPV vaccination campaign, along with frontline healthcare workers, particularly ASHA workers and ANMs, were felicitated. The recognition was given in appreciation of their dedicated contribution towards taking the benefits of the campaign to the final stage and ensuring the identification and vaccination of eligible adolescent girls.
During the programme, the Hon’ble Minister released a short video on the HPV vaccination campaign. The video presents various aspects of the implementation and progress of the campaign across Assam.
Addressing the gathering, Health Minister Shri Ashok Singhal emphasised the need for coordinated and strengthened efforts among state- and district-level health teams to bring every eligible beneficiary under the vaccination programme. He also called for coordinated measures to further expand the coverage of both HPV vaccination and routine immunization.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on strengthening implementation at the district level, ensuring 100 per cent coverage under the HPV vaccination campaigYn through effective monitoring and coordinated mechanisms, and further strengthening routine immunization services across the state.