Nandapur: A free HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination drive for adolescent girls was disrupted at a government school in Koraput district after the headmistress allegedly stopped students from taking the vaccine.
The Centre and state Health departments are running a campaign to vaccinate girls aged 9 to 14 against cervical cancer.
As part of the drive, a Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) team has been visiting schools, creating awareness and transporting students to nearby health centres.
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The team visited Padua Government High School under the Nandapur block April 2 and convinced the authorities and students to participate.
Fifteen students were sent to Padua Primary Health Centre for vaccination, while more were to follow.
However, headmistress Gouramani Das reportedly instructed the warden to stop the process and bring back the students, and not to send others.
The students returned without vaccination, leading to wastage of prepared doses.
Following this, Nandapur Community Health Centre superintendent Amit Kumar Sahu informed the Block Education Officer and the Chief District Medical Officer, alleging obstruction of the National Immunisation Programme.
The incident comes amid earlier complaints against the headmistress by local representatives and parents, who had sought her transfer citing irregularities.
Das said she halted the vaccination, fearing parental objections. BEO Bhawani Nandan Pattanayak said an inquiry has been conducted and the report submitted to higher authorities for further action.