- JP Nadda addresses press briefing at WHO headquarters virtually
- India screens over 86 million women for cervical cancer under NP-NCD
- Nationwide HPV vaccination campaign targets 12 million adolescent girls
- WHO chief Tedros praises India’s drive as the world’s largest free HPV vaccination programme
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th March: Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday virtually addressed a press briefing at the headquarters of the World Health Organization, reaffirming India’s commitment to eliminating cervical cancer and strengthening global health cooperation.
Speaking at the briefing, Nadda said the health and dignity of women remain a national priority and highlighted the government’s comprehensive strategy focused on prevention, screening, early detection and timely treatment.
Over 86 million women screened
The minister said cervical cancer screening has been expanded under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD).
Screening using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) is now available at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and other health facilities for women aged 30 to 65.
According to the minister, more than 86 million women have already been screened under the programme across the country.
Nationwide HPV vaccination campaign
Nadda also highlighted the launch of the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign inaugurated by Narendra Modi on February 28.
The programme targets around 12 million adolescent girls aged 14 years, aiming to protect them from cervical cancer through preventive vaccination.
The campaign is being implemented over a 90-day period using a single-dose schedule of the Gardasil Quadrivalent vaccine, following recommendations from WHO and India’s National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization.
The vaccine is being administered free of cost at government health facilities across the country.
Digital monitoring of vaccination
Nadda said digital technologies are playing a key role in monitoring the campaign. Each vaccination event is recorded through the U-WIN digital immunisation platform, while vaccine stocks and cold-chain logistics are tracked using the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN).
He also acknowledged the role of frontline health workers in reaching communities and ensuring the success of the campaign.
WHO praises India’s initiative
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised India’s efforts, describing the HPV vaccination programme as the world’s largest free vaccination drive against cervical cancer.
Tedros said the initiative would vaccinate around 12 million girls every year and marked a landmark step toward protecting future generations.
He noted that cervical cancer remains a major global health challenge and reiterated the WHO’s 90-70-90 targets for 2030, aimed at expanding vaccination, screening and treatment worldwide.
The WHO chief also reaffirmed the organisation’s support for countries implementing large-scale public health initiatives to eliminate cervical cancer and improve women’s health globally.
