Telangana launches health screening for 46 lakh SHG women, begins HPV vaccination drive

Empowering women is essential for the progress of society. Education of a woman helps move an entire generation forwards and societies that prioritise women are truly developed, said Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha. He was speaking at an event held at Banjara Bhavan in Hyderabad on Sunday (March 8).

During the programme, the Minister launched a large-scale health screening initiative for 46 lakh women belonging to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the State. A Working Women’s Hostel Online Booking Portal, designed to provide safe and convenient accommodation for women working away from their hometowns, was also unveiled. In addition, a booklet highlighting the achievements of the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) over the past year was released.

Under the screening programme, comprehensive health check-ups will be conducted for nearly 46 lakh women across 4.37 lakh self-help groups in 33 districts of Telangana. With the support of SERP, women will be taken to nearby Primary Health Centres (PHCs), where around 30 types of tests, including blood pressure, blood sugar and thyroid screening, will be conducted free of cost.

The Minister said that after the health screening, each woman will be provided a digital health record with a QR code, which will be stored on the e-HMIS portal. The digital record will help monitor health conditions and enable timely treatment in future.

From March 8, Telangana also began administering the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to girls aged above 14 years and below 15 years. About four lakh girls in this age group have been identified across the State for the vaccination drive.