The government will provide vaccines for the prevention of cervical cancer to girls aged between 9 and 14 years through their schools. The decision was based on the National Technical Advisory Group for Immunisation (NTAGI) recommendation to introduce the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine in the Universal Immunisation Programme.
India is expected to roll out the indigenously developed CERVAVAC vaccine by mid-2023. The vaccine has received the Drugs Controller GeneraI of India’s approval and has been cleared by the government advisory panel NTAGI for use in the public health programme. A one-time catch-up vaccine will be provided for 9 to 14 year-old adolescent girls. Subsequently, it will be introduced at 9 years.
The vaccination will be provided primarily through schools because of the high enrolment of girls. Those girls who are unable to attend school on the day that the vaccination campaign is organised will be provided the vaccine at a health facility. Out-of-school girls will be reached through community outreach and mobile teams, according to a statement from the Education Ministry.
Given the slow and steady rise in breast and cervical cancer cases, the focus now turns to the absence of sustained measures to create awareness. While breast cancer is more popular, the malady affecting the genital tract is categorised into cervical cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. The primary reason for the rise in cases is the general misapprehension that cancer occurs only in the later stages of life, but the instances of the disease attacking young women, including adolescent, unmarried women and lactating mothers, have shattered the myth.
Women Doctors’ Wing (WDW), a unit of Indian Medical Association’s (IMA), is working on a project to create awareness, prevention, screening and early detection of breast and cervical cancer. The project is named ‘SWAYAM’ as it encourages self-examination by women. “Breast cancer can be easily tracked by palpating every part of the breast and checking for painful/painless lumps, if any”, says P. Krishna Prasanthi, a national committee member of WDW. Similarly, cervical cancer can occur even without any perceptible symptoms like abdominal swelling, pain in the abdomen or altered menstrual cycle. In case of known indications, Dr.Prasanthi suggests women to approach a gynaecologist for proper diagnosis.
In a joint letter, the Union Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar and Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan have requested the States and Union Territories to issue appropriate directions for organising HPV vaccination centres in schools and identifying a nodal person in each government and private school to coordinate vaccination activities and collate the number of 9-14 year old girls. They will also spread awareness to parents during parent-teacher meetings.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. In India, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women. India contributes the largest share of the global cervical cancer burden. According to a recent study published in The Lancet, India accounted for nearly one in every four deaths globally due to cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. Most cervical cancers are associated with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and the HPV vaccine can prevent most cases of cervical cancer if the vaccine is given before girls or women are exposed to the virus. Prevention through vaccination is one of the pillars of the global strategy adopted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the elimination of cervical cancer.
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