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 India is working to safeguard women from preventable diseases such as cervical cancer through prevention, screening and early treatment.
He said cervical cancer continues to pose a public health challenge globally and in India, prompting the government to adopt a multi-pronged strategy that focuses 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 between 30 and 65 years.
According to the Minister, more than 86 million women have been screened for cervical cancer under the programme so far.
Nadda also announced the nationwide rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 28. The campaign aims to vaccinate 12 million girls aged 14 years, marking a large-scale step towards preventing cervical cancer.
The campaign, which will run for 90 days, 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.
He added that the vaccination programme is voluntary and based on parental consent, underscoring respect for community values and family autonomy.
The Minister also highlighted 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 being tracked through the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN).
Nadda acknowledged the role of frontline health workers in reaching communities and building trust to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
Reaffirming India’s support for global efforts, he said the country endorses the WHO Global Strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, which includes the 90-70-90 targets by 2030 — vaccinating 90% of girls against HPV, screening 70% of women, and ensuring treatment for 90% of those diagnosed with cervical disease.
Addressing 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 noted that progress has been made in reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS, with the WHO supporting several countries in rolling out prevention interventions.
On cervical cancer, Tedros said the observance of International HPV Awareness Day recently served as a reminder of the global effort to eliminate the disease as a public health threat.
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 every year under the initiative.
Tedros also pointed out that over 80,000 women die from cervical cancer in India each year, with about 42,000 new cases reported annually, underscoring the need for preventive measures such as vaccination and early screening.
He reaffirmed the WHO’s support for countries undertaking large-scale public health initiatives aimed at eliminating cervical cancer and strengthening women’s health.
South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi also joined the press briefing virtually and congratulated India on the launch of its nationwide HPV vaccination campaign.
