Over 86 million Indian women have undergone cervical cancer screening, paving the way for a massive HPV vaccination campaign targeting 12 million adolescent girls, Health Minister JP Nadda announced Thursday at a WHO virtual briefing.
From the NP-NCD framework, India’s strategy tackles cervical cancer head-on—a disease linked to HPV and largely preventable. Nadda emphasized national priority on maternal health, detailing expansions in VIA screening at health mandirs for ages 30-65.
This massive outreach exemplifies scalable primary care. Building on it, PM Modi inaugurated the HPV drive on February 28, deploying free Gardasil doses over 90 days to 14-year-olds nationwide.
Voluntary and family-centric, the program leverages frontline workers to bridge communities and services. Nadda stressed integration: vaccinate youth, screen adults, treat promptly—key to WHO’s 2030 elimination targets.
Dr. Tedros spotlighted India’s campaign as the globe’s largest free HPV effort, amid stark stats: 42,000 annual new cases and 80,000 deaths in the country alone. He reiterated 90-70-90 goals and praised preventive innovations.
Global fight updates included HIV progress, with WHO aiding nine nations. South Africa’s Health Minister echoed congratulations, as Nadda urged unified action against non-communicable threats like obesity and cervical cancer.
India’s blueprint offers a replicable model, blending policy, technology, and people power for healthier futures.