PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Haldwani Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the State government is working to establish one medical college in every district of the State. He said five government medical colleges are already functional in the State and construction of two new medical colleges is underway. He was speaking at the launching of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign against cervical cancer for girls aged 14 years and above at Government Medical College, Haldwani on Saturday. The nationwide campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Ajmer, Rajasthan. The CM said that the State government is working to realize its dream of a ‘Healthy Uttarakhand, Prosperous Uttarakhand’. He said about 61 lakh Ayushman cards have been distributed in the State providing free treatment to the people of the State. The CM added that super-specialty departments have been established in Dehradun, Haldwani and Srinagar Medical Colleges where modern facilities such as cardiology, neurosurgery and urology are being provided. He said construction of the State’s first modern cancer institute in Haldwani is also underway. The CM said that the heli-ambulance service has also been launched in the State which is proving to be a lifesaver for people in remote areas. He said that the District Hospitals and Community Health Centres are being modernised and equipped with better facilities. Efforts are being made to provide consultations by specialist doctors in remote villages through telemedicine services. Continuous action is also being taken to address staff shortages in government hospitals and medical colleges. The CM said that the HPV campaign is a historic step towards respecting, protecting and empowering women. He said that by launching the campaign, PM Modi has proven that for him, respecting and protecting women is not just a slogan, but an unwavering resolve. Dhami said that cervical cancer has become a serious challenge to the health of women. In India, more than 78,000 cases of this disease were reported in 2024 alone, resulting in the deaths of over 42,000 women. He said that under this campaign more than 1.15 crore adolescent girls aged 14 years in the country will get free HPV vaccine. The CM said that in Uttarakhand, arrangements have been made for vaccination at 155 centers in the first phase of this campaign. The CM appealed to the people not to fall prey to rumours or misconceptions and to ensure their daughters are vaccinated against HPV. This is not just a vaccine, but a protective shield for their healthy lives, he said. He also appealed to all teachers, Panchayat representatives, women’s groups, religious and social organisations to work to spread awareness about this campaign in the society and ensure that no girl is deprived of this protective shield in the next three months.
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