The state health department in West Bengal is launching a cervical cancer vaccination drive for girl children in red-light areas, starting with Sonagachi in North Kolkata. This initiative, in collaboration with the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, aims to offer free vaccinations to girls aged 14 to 15 years.
Dr. Sharadwat Mukherjee, the state Health Minister and a renowned medical practitioner, has requested a list of eligible girl children from the committee. The project will focus on providing free vaccinations to girls in the specified age group in red-light areas.
Durbar secretary Bishakha Lashkar revealed that the Health Minister announced the initiative during the 31st anniversary of Durbar. Additionally, the state health department plans to install condom-vending machines in Sonagachi at no cost.
The health department also honored students from the Sonagachi area who took their Secondary and Higher Secondary exams this year. Financial aid was extended to elderly sex workers who have retired due to age-related reasons. Moreover, the state government intends to conduct cervical cancer vaccination camps in all girls’ schools, seeking consent from the students’ guardians beforehand.
