Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Jul 14: The West Bengal government has decided to extend its cervical cancer vaccination programme to adolescent girls living in the state's red-light areas by providing the vaccine free of cost, with the initiative set to begin in Kolkata's Sonagachi, Asia's largest and oldest red-light district.

The programme will be implemented jointly by the state health department and the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, an organisation that works for the welfare of sex workers and their families in Sonagachi.

State Health Minister Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee has asked the committee to prepare a list of girls aged 14 and 15 years from the area so they can be included in the vaccination campaign.

Durbar secretary Bishakha Lashkar said the minister made the announcement while attending the organisation's 31st foundation anniversary celebrations on Sunday. She said the government had assured that eligible girls from Sonagachi would receive the cervical cancer vaccine without any cost.

Lashkar also revealed that the health department has decided to install condom-vending machines in the Sonagachi area free of charge as part of efforts to strengthen public health and awareness.

During the anniversary event, the organisation honoured children of sex workers who had appeared for this year's Secondary and Higher Secondary examinations. Financial assistance was also distributed to elderly sex workers who had retired from the profession due to age.

The latest announcement follows the state government's recent decision to expand the cervical cancer vaccination drive to schools across West Bengal. The health department plans to organise vaccination camps in girls' schools throughout the state after obtaining consent from parents or guardians before administering the vaccine to eligible students.