Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on Friday reaffirmed India’s commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem, while addressing a press briefing virtually at the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Speaking at the briefing, Nadda said protecting the health and dignity of women remains a national priority, adding that the government is focusing on prevention, screening and early treatment to safeguard women from preventable diseases such as cervical cancer.
Multi-Pronged Strategy for Cervical Cancer Prevention
The Minister noted that cervical cancer continues to be a major public health challenge globally and in India. To address this issue, the government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy focusing on early detection and timely treatment.
Under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), population-based screening services have been expanded as part of comprehensive primary healthcare.
Screening using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) is now available at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and other health facilities across the country for women aged 30 to 65 years.
According to Nadda, more than 86 million women have been screened for cervical cancer under the programme so far.
Nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign
The Health Minister also highlighted the nationwide rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 28.
The campaign aims to vaccinate around 12 million girls aged 14 years, marking a major step toward preventing cervical cancer in India.
The 90-day vaccination campaign follows a single-dose schedule using the Gardasil Quadrivalent vaccine, in line with recommendations from the WHO and India’s National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). The vaccine is being provided free of cost at designated government health facilities.
Nadda said the initiative reflects the government’s vision of “Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar” (Healthy Women, Empowered Families) and aims to ensure equitable access to preventive healthcare.
Digital Monitoring of Vaccination Programme
The Minister also emphasised the role of digital platforms in monitoring the campaign. Vaccination data is being recorded through the U-WIN digital immunisation platform, while vaccine stocks and cold-chain logistics are tracked through the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN).
He also acknowledged the contribution of frontline healthcare workers, who play a crucial role in reaching communities and building trust to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.
India Supports WHO Global Strategy
Reaffirming India’s support for global health initiatives, Nadda said the country endorses the WHO Global Strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, which aims to achieve the 90-70-90 targets by 2030 — vaccinating 90 percent of girls against HPV, screening 70 percent of women, and ensuring treatment for 90 percent of those diagnosed with cervical disease.
WHO Praises India’s Initiative
During the briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said global health challenges such as obesity, HIV/AIDS and cervical cancer require sustained international cooperation and scientific innovation.
He congratulated India for launching what he described as the world’s largest free HPV vaccination campaign, noting that around 12 million adolescent girls will be vaccinated annually under the initiative.
Tedros also highlighted that over 80,000 women die from cervical cancer in India each year, with about 42,000 new cases reported annually, underlining the importance of preventive measures such as vaccination and early screening.
Global Support for Cervical Cancer Elimination
South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi also joined the virtual press briefing and congratulated India on launching its nationwide HPV vaccination campaign.
The WHO reaffirmed its support for countries implementing large-scale public health initiatives aimed at eliminating cervical cancer and strengthening women’s health worldwide.
