A New Country-Level Consortium Aims to Drive Down Cervical Cancer in India

A common goal can propel people to transcend individual differences, hold hands and move mountains. This is evident from the achievements of the newly formed Cervical Cancer Elimination Consortium – India (CCEC-I) has been able to achieve, in a matter of just a few weeks.

This is exactly the vision that the Sabin-hosted Global HPV Consortium had set at the time of its launch less than a year ago, in September 2023: to spur and build country-level momentum to accelerate the fight against cervical cancer. Several Indian organizations working in the fields of vaccination, screening, reproductive health, quality, diversity, equity, women’s empowerment, cancer control, non-communicable and infectious diseases joined the Global HPV Consortium as partners and were energized to embrace the Consortium vision and goals in the world’s most populous country of 1.4 billion people.

This April, we all sat around the table in New Delhi, and what started as an aspirational “what if…” question on the first day of the CCEC-I’s inaugural roundtable quickly became a bold and comprehensive nine-point strategic, action-packed plan for creating 100 cervical cancer-free (Mukt in Hindi) districts. Capitalizing on an inspiring range of local expertise and experience, and anchored in the realities of on-the-ground implementation, the plan has been presented to the Indian Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and discussions are underway to bring this vision and its cervical cancer elimination targets to life.

Moving the needle in India, which accounts for more than 20% of all global cervical cancer deaths, is vital. India is one of 51 countries in the world that is yet to introduce HPV vaccines into its national immunization schedule. If given to girls at the right age, the vaccines can almost completely prevent the development of cervical cancer.

Though globally cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, in India it ranks as the second most prevalent, claiming the lives of several young women every day. These deaths are wasteful, unnecessary and extremely tragic because they are so easily preventable. The 100 cervical cancer-free district plan aims to eliminate these deaths by combining HPV vaccination, screening and pre-cancer treatment and ensures that women can avail of these crucial services.

Even the most laudable intentions fall prey to weak implementation. That is why the CCEC-I is so focused on effective execution of the government’s proposal to publicly fund HPV vaccination as well as its existing program to screen women for cervical cancer. With their wealth of experience, deep knowledge, intimate understanding, unflinching faith and fiery passion, and by working hand in hand with the government, the CCEC-I partners are set to alter the course of cervical cancer in India.