By Arun Sharma | Special Correspondent

East Delhi, Dilshad Garden | February 28, 2026

From the holy city of Ajmer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, marking what he described as a decisive step toward safeguarding the health of India’s daughters.


Simultaneously, the programme was rolled out in the national capital in mission mode, with a formal launch event at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in Dilshad Garden under the banner of the ‘Cervical Cancer Star Campaign’.


FREE ‘GARDASIL-4’ VACCINE FOR 14-YEAR-OLD GIRLS
Addressing the nation, the Prime Minister announced that 14-year-old girls will receive the ‘Gardasil-4’ vaccine free of cost at government health centres across the country.


Calling the initiative a historic milestone in preventive healthcare, Mr. Modi said the campaign aligns with the national vision of “Healthy Women – Empowered India.”


“When a mother is healthy, the entire family becomes capable of facing every challenge,” the Prime Minister said, underlining the broader social and economic impact of women’s health security.


DELHI GOVT TO IMPLEMENT DRIVE IN MISSION MODE


Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta affirmed full support for the Central initiative, stating that the capital would ensure last-mile delivery.
“Reaching every eligible girl is our top priority. Protecting women’s health is the foundation of a strong society,” she said, describing the programme as a transformative investment in future generations.


HEALTH MINISTRY STEPS UP EXECUTION
Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said the vaccination campaign would be carried out on a large scale across the city.
“This free immunisation drive will protect lakhs of young girls in the coming years. Strengthening preventive healthcare is central to our public health strategy,” he noted.


MP MANOJ TIWARI CALLS IT A ‘MILESTONE’
North-East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari termed the initiative a milestone in awareness and preventive care.
He said the campaign would bring meaningful social change and provide families with a safer, healthier future.


PHASED IMPLEMENTATION WITH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS
Senior officials from the Health and Family Welfare Department confirmed that the programme will be implemented in phases, with vaccination facilities established across government hospitals and health centres.
Parallel awareness campaigns will also be conducted to ensure maximum participation.


GTB HOSPITAL GEARS UP
At Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Medical Director Dr. Vinod Kumar said special arrangements had been made to facilitate smooth vaccination.


He emphasised that preventive immunisation would significantly reduce the long-term burden of cervical cancer treatment and improve women’s health outcomes.


WIDE PUBLIC REPRESENTATION AT LAUNCH EVENT
The Delhi event witnessed the presence of several public representatives, including Shahdara MLA Sanjay Goyal, Ex-Candidate BJP Seema Puri Assembly, Seemapuri MLA Veer Singh Dhingan, Councillors Ramesh Bisaiya and Mohini Jeenwal, and former councillor candidate Praveen Kasana.


Representatives from the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Dilshad Garden Mandal, including Deepak Sagar, Pankaj Balyan and Shanky Khurana, were also in attendance.


A MAJOR PUSH TOWARD PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE
With cervical cancer among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women globally, health experts believe that widespread HPV immunisation can drastically reduce future incidence rates.


The Ajmer launch signals not only a major public health intervention but also a broader commitment to women’s empowerment through preventive healthcare reform — positioning India closer to global health standards and long-term disease prevention goals.