Ranchi: Adolescent girls between the age of 14 and 15 years will receive the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine free of cost at govt hospitals and community health centres equipped with cold chain systems.In the state, the drive was launched by minister of health, medical education and family welfare Irfan Ansari and Union minister of state for defence and MP Sanjay Seth from Ranchi on Saturday. The nationwide campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Ajmer. In Ranchi, Saloni Kumari became the first beneficiary of the initiative.Ranchi civil surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar said, “Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India and has a high mortality rate. The govt will administer Gardasil-4 to adolescent girls, who do not have any major health complications or severe allergies, to fight HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for most cervical cancer cases.”The National Cancer Registry Programme under the Indian Council of Medical Research data revealed that 79,103 new cases of cervical cancer and 34,805 deaths were reported in India.Ansari said the HPV vaccine costs around Rs 4,000 in private hospitals, making it unaffordable for many families. “The govt is providing this vaccine free of cost to safeguard our daughters from cervical cancer.”The state is preparing to undertake large-scale recruitment of doctors to address the shortage across districts. Aplastic anaemia check-ups will soon begin in all districts to make state anaemia-free, he added.Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth urged the public to ensure that all eligible adolescent girls receive the vaccine. “The drive will continue daily for the next three months, and then be integrated into vaccination programme.”