The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine will be administered to the adolescents girls aged between 10 -15 years from September free of cost, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday.
The number of patients in cervical cancer is increasing, so there is a plan to increase screening to detect the cancer, he said, while speaking at a programme at the ministry.
The government has undertaken a plan to administer the HPV vaccine and it will be administered like other vaccines, he said.
“It will be effective if we can administer the vaccine to the adolescents girls aged 10-15 years. The vaccine will be provided free of cost and only one dose will be given to the girls,” said Maleque.
Referring to breast cancer, the minister said “We will try to provide necessary machineries at the upazila level so that the disease can be detected as early as possible.”
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Replying to a question, Maleque said: “The government is sincere about health care services and in case of importing medical equipment, the government will try its best to fulfill the need by opening LC. But there is no crisis of equipment now at the government hospitals.”