Cervical cancer, the third most prevalent cancer form among Pakistani women, is a reality. Pakistan has one of the highest cervical cancer mortality rates in South Asia, with 3,000 women losing their lives to the disease each year. This is mostly because of delayed diagnoses. Cervical cancer is prevented by the HPV vaccine. Imagine how frustrated and disappointed medical officials must have been to learn that, according to data released on Tuesday, the just completed HPV vaccine campaign had a 20% success rate. It is reasonable to believe that the eventual success rate will not be sufficient given the pervasive misinformation against the vaccine. Health experts say the main cause of the poor coverage rate is misunderstanding.  There is a narrative-building issue in Pakistan, and regrettably, the relevant authorities don’t do anything to stop conspiracy theories.

The strategy used by our government is still conventional. Although it was encouraging to see politicians share pictures of their daughters receiving vaccinations, it seems that the messages were not reaching the people they were meant to. Months prior to the vaccine program, the awareness campaign need to have been started. There is currently little information supporting the vaccine, most of it found in English-speaking areas. Second, those who are often disassociated from vaccine doubters are the focus of health organizations’ awareness workshops.  These same individuals discuss the nation’s efforts to address health issues while sitting in air-conditioned chambers, oblivious to........

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