Hyderabad, Feb. 16 -- The Telangana government is gearing up to offer free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to adolescent girls as part of efforts to prevent cervical cancer.

The initiative will benefit around four lakh girls aged above 14 years and below 15 years.

Free vaccination in government facilities

Health officials have not only finalised district-wise targets but also completed training for medical personnel ahead of the rollout.

It may be noted that the HPV vaccine costs thousands of rupees in the private market.

Before implementation, authorities will conduct a micro-planning survey to identify eligible girls both in schools and outside the formal education system. Government estimates indicate that approximately 4.6...