India is on its journey to control Cervical Cancer with introducing vaccine and now health programme to spread awareness

India’s Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Budget 2024 on February 1st with significant focus over health, women and farmers along with an aim to boost the economy. She presented last budget under current administration before upcoming general elections. Factors such as youth and women empowerment, focus on farmers and poor, use of infrastructure and technology for productive outcomes and handling demographic challenges through high power committee, the budget included all possible segments. GDP is government, development and performance. We have delivered on development and have better managed the economy. We are bringing down the fiscal deficit despite very challenging times, she said. Simultaneously, the budget also hinted towards the India, Middle East, European Corridor (IMEC) project to be continued irrespective of trouble in Red Sea.
However, Finance Minister stressed over vaccination against cervical cancer for girls aged 9-14 years old as a part of Interim Budget. While she recollected other health schemes introduced by administration, it has been announced as a guide to ‘Viksit Bharat (Developed India)’ by 2047. According to the information, Cervical cancer is observed as one of the most common problems among women in India. Appears in woman’s cervix, it is caused due to long lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
Manisha Raj works in women health support, and is associated with multiple hospitals, clinics and healthcare centres in India. she also identify herself as health expert and according to her, this was needed because of increased cervical cancer cases since past years. She said, ‘We receive majorly cervical cancer patients than any other diagnose. Generally, it is noticed among women around 30 or above 30 years old. It happens because of infection with certain types of HPV (Human Papillomavirus). People who are sexually active have possible chances of this infection as the virus is transferrable but cancer diagnosis could be found in few of them. It is also problematic in situations like, if a woman is pregnant or wants to get pregnant. Because cervix connects the uterus and vagina.’ She further added that, significantly, cancer is a disease that let cells grow out of control in the body, and wherever it spreads, it is named accordingly. So, if cancer develops in cervix, it is called cervical cancer.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech said, ‘Our government will encourage vaccination for girls in the age group of 9 to 14 years for the prevention of cervical cancer’. India has a population of 511.4 million women aged 15 years and older, who are at high risk of developing cervical cancer, quoted India Today. As per Manisha, it is curable disease, people should be aware of its symptoms and precautions. She told EAT news, ‘Cervical cancer is not life threatening until detected early. It is curable, but women should notice the changes in their body timely, to avoid any complications. Encouraging women and young girls to take vaccine is an appreciative step and there has to be awareness around this subject. Regular body checkups and vaccinations is the only way out. As I mentioned, spreading a word about cervical cancer vaccination programme will help reducing the cases and it can be called preventable condition.’
There are few of vaccines available in the global market targeting HPV types 16 and 18, which are considered as frequent viruses causing cervical cancer. Cervarix (bivalent) and Gardasil (quadrivalent) are the two internationally recognized vaccines whereas recently, India manufactured its own vaccine called as ‘Cervavac (quadrivalent), introduced in January 2023. Developed and manufactured by Pune based Serum Institute of India (SII), the vaccine cost around INR 200o for single does and INR 4000 for complete dose. ‘Cervavac is available in the market and has been supplied to multiple hospitals. Yes, since then, people are taking the vaccines and it is a very forward step taken by Indian administration in collaboration with the Serum Institute to deliver these domestic vaccines. It is not only efficient in cost cutting but also is easily accessible to the people around the country’, she said. In addition, ‘Earlier, we were using Gardasil and Cervarix which is globally available is doing the same. All the vaccines are preferrable, under your Doctor’s prescription. However, paying attention to your body is equally important’, she said.
Repeatedly emphasizing over to notice symptoms early, Health expert Manisha briefly described the symptoms that every woman should look into. She said, ‘Vaginal bleeding, bleeding after menopause or in between periods, watery or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, sometimes pelvic pain during intercourse and even post coital bleeding. Apparently, one cannot figure at the very start because symptoms do not appear, but gradually when the cancer progress it starts showing on your body, and that is when one should take it severely and consult the Doctor.’
Self-Sufficient India campaign started by Modi administration, is going strong with India introducing its own cervical cancer vaccine and boosting the health sector of the country by relying over domestic production.