Jakarta, Feb. 4 -- The Indonesian government will begin targeting boys aged 11 years for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination starting in 2027 as part of efforts to curb cervical cancer, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has said.

He explained that although men cannot develop cervical cancer, they can transmit the virus that causes the disease.

"We want to accelerate cervical cancer prevention through a massive HPV vaccination campaign," the minister said at the World Cancer Day commemoration event in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He noted that there are currently 10,000 community health centers (puskesmas) across Indonesia capable of providing cancer screening and early detection services.

The Ministry of Health has set a target of scree...