Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda virtually addressed a press briefing at the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO), where he reaffirmed India’s strong commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem and outlined the country’s comprehensive strategy to achieve this goal.
🎯 Why This Matters
Cervical cancer remains a significant challenge globally and in India. It is largely preventable through vaccination and early detection, yet continues to cause deaths among women. India’s strategy focuses on an integrated approach that combines prevention, screening, early detection and treatment to reduce the disease burden.
🧠 India’s Multi‑Pronged Strategy
According to Nadda, the Government of India has adopted a comprehensive plan involving:
🛡️ Prevention through vaccination:
A nationwide HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination campaign was launched on 28 February 2026 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protect adolescent girls. The campaign targets about 12 million (1.2 crore) girls aged 14 years, offering a single dose of the Gardasil Quadrivalent vaccine free of cost at government facilities.🔍 Large‑scale screening:
Through the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non‑Communicable Diseases (NP‑NCD), cervical cancer screening services are now available across India at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and other healthcare centres, using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) for women aged 30–65 years. Over 86 million women have already been screened under this initiative.🏥 Early detection and timely treatment:
Women identified with cervical disease are provided access to quality health services to ensure early diagnosis and treatment, a key step toward reducing mortality.
🌍 WHO Support and Global Goals
The WHO has welcomed India’s initiatives and described the HPV vaccination campaign as the “world’s largest free HPV vaccination drive”, highlighting its importance in preventing cervical cancer. WHO Director‑General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that this programme aligns with the WHO global 90‑70‑90 targets for 2030 — which aim to ensure:
90% of girls vaccinated against HPV,
70% of women screened for cervical cancer, and
90% of women identified with disease receive treatment. (The Health Expert)
👩⚕️ India’s Commitment to Women’s Health
Nadda stressed that women’s health and dignity are national priorities, and India is fully supporting and actively contributing to WHO’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer. He also called for strengthened global cooperation to accelerate progress against this preventable disease.