Shillong, Oct 29: The Meghalaya government has launched ‘Teeka Talk’ in collaboration with Girl Effect India and implementation partner Indian Social Responsibility Network to strengthen awareness around Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination across the state.
The initiative was launched on Thursday at a state-level meeting chaired by Director of Health Services (MCH&FW) cum Joint Mission Director, National Health Mission Dr C Iangrai. Over 35 stakeholders from Health, Education, Social Welfare and MSRLS attended to firm up coordination.
Under the drive, government health facilities will provide free HPV vaccination to girls aged 14 years. Officials said HPV vaccination can help prevent HPV infections that cause most cervical cancers. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India, with 78,499 women diagnosed and 42,392 deaths in 2024 as per NCRP-ICMR data.
Teeka Talk will support school, community and family engagement through its WhatsApp-based chatbot that provides credible information and answers common questions on HPV vaccination and cervical cancer.
“Meghalaya is committed to ensuring every eligible girl and her family has access to information and support they need to make informed decisions. Our collaboration with Girl Effect India through Teeka Talk will help bring reliable information closer to families,” Dr Iangrai said.
Joint DHS cum SIO Dr B R Marak said cervical cancer continues to claim thousands of lives and urged parents to vaccinate their 14-year-old daughters immediately, just like other childhood vaccinations.
Country Director, Girl Effect India, Kavita Ayyagari said Teeka Talk is designed to make it easier for families to find clear and trustworthy answers through schools, communities and digital platforms in a language and format they understand.
District officials flagged prevalence of myths among students and parents leading to low uptake and sought short IEC videos for schools, training of MSRLS staff and community cadres, and presence of technical experts during school health programmes.
