Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday said that more than 3.36 lakh girls aged 14 to 15 in the state are set to benefit from a new vaccination campaign targeting the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the state-wide initiative following the formal national launch of the programme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
Emphasising that the campaign aims to foster healthy and empowered women, Majhi stated that the vaccination of approximately 3.36 lakh girls in Odisha would be completed within a three-month window.
Initially, the vaccine is being administered at district headquarters hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, and community health centres. The program is scheduled to expand to primary health centres in its second month. Majhi highlighted that the vaccine is being provided entirely free of charge.
ଆଜି ଜାତୀୟ HPV ଟୀକାକରଣ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମର ଶୁଭାରମ୍ଭ ଅବସରରେ ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱରସ୍ଥିତ କୃଷି ଭବନରେ ଆୟୋଜିତ ରାଜ୍ୟସ୍ତରୀୟ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମରେ ସାମିଲ ହେଲି । ଏହି ଜାତୀୟ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମକୁ ରାଜସ୍ଥାନର ଆଜମେରରୁ ମାନ୍ୟବର ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଜୀ ଶୁଭାରମ୍ଭ କରିଛନ୍ତି । ଏହି ଅଭିଯାନରେ ରାଜ୍ୟର ୧୪ ରୁ ୧୫ ବର୍ଷ ବୟସ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା… pic.twitter.com/tzM37hC4iA
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) February 28, 2026
Further addressing cancer prevention, the Chief Minister noted the introduction of the ‘Chief Minister’s Cancer Treatment Programme’ in the 2026-27 budget. This initiative will focus on community awareness and early intervention through mobile screening camps in rural areas. Additionally, 121 specialised cancer treatment packages have been developed for the state under the Ayushman Bharat and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana frameworks.
During the event, Majhi also dedicated 28 new 108-service ambulances, part of a broader effort that has seen 428 new vehicles added to the state’s emergency healthcare system across three phases.
The state government has allocated Rs 111 crore from its own funds for this upgrade, the CM said.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling added that while the market price for the cervical cancer vaccine is approximately Rs 4,000, the Prime Minister’s initiative ensures it is available to girls at no cost.
