World Cancer Day: District hospitals in the UP will soon offer the cervical cancer vaccine

Cervical cancer vaccine will soon be included in the routine immunization program in Uttar Pradesh, with at least one district-level hospital in each district equipped to screen women for breast and cervical cancer.

Dr Manoj Shukla, GM, Routine Immunization at National Health Mission, Uttar Pradesh, said, “There are plans to soon include cervical cancer vaccine in routine immunization in Uttar Pradesh and other states. Currently, the imported vaccine is available in the private sector and costs up to ₹3,500 per dose. India has also developed a vaccine that is cheaper. Under the revised strategy, Community Health Officers (CHOs) deployed at health and wellness centers in rural areas will also help identify cancer cases.

According to the National Family Health Survey (2019-21), 1.5% of women in Uttar Pradesh underwent cervical cancer screening tests, including 1.1% of urban and 1.7% of rural women. “According to the data, cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer in India. The vaccine, given to young girls preferably between the ages of 9 and 14, can help prevent this. Catch-up vaccination is allowed up to the age of 26," said Dr. Amita Shukla, Chief Gynaecologist, SC Trivedi Memorial Trust Hospital.

In another initiative, Tata Trusts has launched its latest campaign featuring two awareness films highlighting the sense of uncertainty that cancer patients and their caregivers experience when cancer is detected. "The campaign raises awareness of four key pillars that can alleviate India's growing cancer burden: awareness, accessibility, quality care and affordability," said Dr Sanjiv Chopra, CEO, Cancer Care Programme, Tata Trusts, in a press release.

The first of the two films takes viewers on an emotional journey into the lives of cancer patients, highlighting how the uncertainties surrounding their personal lives, finances and future weigh more heavily on their minds than the cancer itself, and how the four pillars of the Tata Program Trusts Cancer Care provide relief. The campaign then builds on the stress of uncertainty in another film that draws attention to the mental suffering of the patient's family members and caregivers during this difficult time.

“On the occasion of World Cancer Day, Lucknow Cancer Institute and HEAL Foundation organized a free check-up and awareness camp at Chaturbhuji Mandir, Ram Nagar Road in Barabanki on February 4,” said institute director Nirmala Pant. The camp will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dr Chopra said that today the reported incidence of cancer in India is 15,000,000,000, with the actual incidence estimated to be 1.5 to 3 times higher than the reported cases.