Sirmaur’s Dhagera and Shillai health blocks lead Himachal Pradesh with 115% HPV vaccination coverage
The Dhagera and Shillai blocks in Sirmaur district vaccinated over 1,300 adolescent girls, exceeding targets by up to 115%, showcasing effective public‑health delivery in Himachal Pradesh.
What happened
The Dhagera and Shillai health blocks of Sirmaur district have emerged as Himachal Pradesh’s top performers in a special Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive aimed at adolescent girls. Dhagera vaccinated 855 girls against a target of 756 – 115% coverage – while Shillai inoculated 513 against a target of 490, reaching 103%.
Who achieved it
The results were announced at a ceremony in Hotel Radisson, Shimla, where senior officials – Secretary (Health) Ashish Singhmar, National Health Mission Managing Director Pradeep Thakur and Director of Health Services Dr Gopal Berry – presented trophies and certificates. Block Medical Officer (BMO) Dr Ajay Deol (Shillai) and BMO Dr Chavi Bansal (Dhagera) credited the effort to Community Health Officers, health‑workers and supervisors who “worked diligently to ensure eligible girls received the vaccine.” Chief Medical Officer of Sirmaur, Dr Rakesh Pratap, hailed the achievement as a testament to frontline dedication.
Why it matters
India’s national HPV programme, launched on 28 February 2026 for 14‑year‑old girls, provides the vaccine free of cost through government health facilities. Himachal Pradesh’s exemplary performance demonstrates that the programme’s rollout can achieve, and even exceed, set targets when local health teams are empowered and adequately coordinated. Higher coverage translates directly into reduced risk of cervical cancer – a disease the World Health Organization aims to eliminate as a public‑health problem by 2030.
Other regional efforts
The momentum is not confined to the north. In Tamil Nadu’s Nagercoil Corporation, Mayor‑in‑charge Mary Princy Latha presided over an awareness seminar for school heads on 10 October 2026, with Kanniyakumari Collector M. Prathap urging parents to vaccinate eligible girls. Meanwhile, in Odisha’s Sambalpur district, Dr Sanjeeb Mishra of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) has been running community‑level awareness drives, reaching schools, slums and industrial units and helping vaccinate nearly 10,000 beneficiaries since 2021.
The way forward
Officials say the Sirmaur example will be used as a benchmark for other districts. The NHM plans to replicate the coordinated approach – robust monitoring, community engagement and recognition of high‑performing teams – across the state and beyond. As more blocks achieve or surpass their targets, India moves closer to its goal of protecting a generation of girls from HPV‑related cancers.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dhagera block coverage | 115% (855 girls vaccinated vs 756 target) | Tribune India |
| Shillai block coverage | 103% (513 girls vaccinated vs 490 target) | Tribune India |
| National HPV programme launch date | 28 February 2026 | Dr Sanjeeb Mishra, New Indian Express |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Dr Rakesh Pratap | Chief Medical Officer, Sirmaur |
| Dr Ajay Deol | Block Medical Officer, Shillai |
| Dr Chavi Bansal | Block Medical Officer, Dhagera |
| Ashish Singhmar | Secretary (Health), Himachal Pradesh |
| Pradeep Thakur | NHM Managing Director, Himachal |
| Sirmaur district | District containing Dhagera and Shillai |
| National Health Mission | Implementing agency for the HPV drive |
| Dhagera health block | Top‑performing block in Sirmaur |
| Dr Gopal Berry | Director of Health Services, Himachal |
| Shillai health block | Second‑place block in Sirmaur |
