India committed to eliminating cervical cancer with multi-pronged approach: Nadda

New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI) Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Thursday underlined India's strong commitment to eliminating cervical cancer while stressing that the health and dignity of women remain a core national priority.

Addressing a press briefing at the World Health Organisation headquarters virtually, he highlighted India's commitment to strengthening global cooperation on pressing health challenges.

The health and dignity of women remain a core national priority for India, Nadda said and reiterated the country's obligation to protect women from preventable diseases such as cervical cancer.

Highlighting India's comprehensive strategy to tackle the disease, he noted that the government has adopted a multi-pronged approach focused on prevention, screening, early detection, and timely treatment.

A cornerstone of India's strategy has been the expansion of population-based screening programmes under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), implemented as part of comprehensive primary healthcare services, the Union health minister said.

Screening for cervical cancer using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) is now available at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and various health facilities across the country for women between 30 and 65 years of age, he highlighted.

Nadda informed reporters that over 86 million women have already been screened for cervical cancer under the programme, reflecting India's sustained commitment to early detection and prevention.

The minister said that on February 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the national HPV vaccination campaign, targeting 12 million girls aged 14 years as a significant step toward safeguarding adolescent girls' health and well-being.

The campaign is being implemented over 90 days and follows a single-dose schedule using the Gardasil Quadrivalent vaccine, in accordance with recommendations of the World Health Organisation and India's National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).

The vaccine is being provided free of cost at designated government health facilities.

Emphasising the community-centric nature of the initiative, Nadda stated that the HPV vaccination programme is voluntary, with parental consent serving as a cornerstone of the campaign, reflecting respect for community values and family autonomy.

The Union Minister also highlighted the role of digital technologies in ensuring transparency and efficiency in the campaign. Every vaccination event is recorded through the U-WIN digital immunisation platform, enabling real-time monitoring and accountability, while vaccine stocks and cold-chain logistics are tracked through the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) system.

Nadda acknowledged the critical role played by India's frontline health workers, who have been instrumental in reaching communities, building trust, and ensuring the successful implementation of the campaign.

Reaffirming India's global commitment, the Union Health Minister stated that India fully endorses and actively supports the WHO Global Strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer.

Addressing the press briefing, WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted several pressing global health challenges, including obesity, HIV/AIDS, and cervical cancer, while emphasising the importance of sustained global cooperation and scientific innovation in addressing these public health issues.

Speaking about the global fight against HIV/AIDS, Dr Tedros noted that significant progress has been made in reducing the global burden of the disease.

He also noted that the WHO has supported nine countries in the introduction and administration of HIV prevention interventions, strengthening global efforts to curb the epidemic.

Turning to cervical cancer, Dr Tedros highlighted that International HPV Awareness Day, observed recently, serves as an important reminder of the global commitment to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. PTI PLB NSD NSD