Pune: PMC Becomes First Civic Body in India to Launch Free Cervical Cancer Vaccination Campaign for Girls
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 2nd March 2026: In a historic move towards women’s health security, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) launched the “Cervical Cancer Free Pune” campaign on Monday. The initiative aims to provide free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to girls between the ages of 9 and 13 across the city. According to officials, PMC is the first municipal corporation in the country to implement such an initiative at the civic level.
The campaign, launched in collaboration with the Jivika Foundation and supported by various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partners, was grandly inaugurated at the Shri Sharadchandraji Pawar Academy of E-Learning in Vadgaon Budruk. Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure officiated the launch in the presence of Additional Municipal Commissioner (G) Pavneet Kaur and other key dignitaries.
This local initiative closely follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s momentous decision on February 28 to include the HPV vaccine for girls up to 14 years of age under the National Immunization Programme.
During her presidential address, Mayor Nagpure stated, “Today’s event is not just a formal program but a historic step. PMC is the first municipal corporation in the country to start such an initiative, and we are immensely proud of it. Through this free vaccination drive, we are building a strong shield against cervical cancer to protect the health and futures of the girls in our city.”
The Burden of Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India. According to the ICMR National Cancer Registry Program 2022, the country saw approximately 79,000 new cases and over 34,000 deaths attributed to the disease. The primary cause is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), specifically the HPV-16 and HPV-18 strains, which are responsible for about 83% of cases in India, making the vaccine highly effective.
Program Highlights and Assurances
Under an MoU signed between the PMC and Jivika Foundation, one dose of the HPV vaccine is being provided free of cost to eligible girls. During the launch event, 75 students were administered the “CERVIVAC” vaccine, and five students were ceremonially handed vaccination certificates. An exclusive vaccination ambulance was also flagged off by the dignitaries and students.
Addressing the 150 girls and parents present, Jignesh Patel, Director of the Jivika Foundation, shared that the NGO has already facilitated the vaccination of nearly 50,000 schoolgirls to date.
To address any apprehensions, Additional Commissioner Pavneet Kaur assured parents of the vaccine’s high quality and strict temperature regulation. She urged students not to fear the injection, noting that Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) kits were readily available to manage minor, routine side effects like mild fever or localized swelling.
A Call for Broader CSR Support
Mayor Nagpure emphasized the need to expand the program to all schools in Pune, as well as to out-of-school girls in the 9-13 age bracket. She appealed for continued and increased support from social responsibility funds to meet this goal.
Representatives from key CSR partners who made the free vaccines possible—including Bajaj Finserv, Bridgenext, Compucomp, Caratlane, Icertis, Indostar, Lohia Jain Group, Pattern Tech, Shreejee Structural Steel, ZS Associates, Rotary Club Poona, and Downtown Rotary Club Pune Central—were felicitated by the Mayor with mementos.
The successful organization of the event was credited to PMC Health Officer Dr. Nina Borade, Assistant Health Officer Dr. Rajesh Dighe, ASHA workers, Education Board Deputy Commissioner Vasundhara Barve, Sunanda Vabare, and other dedicated staff from the health and education departments.
