2 weeks Ago By Steffy Thevar
Pune: In Feb this year, during her Budget speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the govt would 'encourage' vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for girls aged between 9-14 years, to prevent multiple cancers. HPV is the main cause of multiple cancers including cervical cancer, anal cancer, vaginal cancer, penile cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer. It's been 10 months since Sitharaman's announcement.
On the ground, state health officials said they're yet to receive confirmation from the Centre if the HPV jab would be included in India's Universal Immunization Program (UIP), or not. Nov 7 is observed nationally as National Cancer Awareness Day . It was introduced by the health ministry in 2014, to raise awareness about prevention, early detection and treatment.
Cervical cancer is one of the most common forms of cancers affecting Indian women and a free-of-cost vaccine for young girls - as part of the UIP - would be incredibly beneficial in preventing deaths, experts said. Months after Sitharaman's speech, health minister JP Nadda had said in Aug that the govt was working to fix logistical issues before rolling out the HPV jab as part of the UIP. Officials said the process has been painfully slow, given the threat these cancers pose.
Every year, India reports nearly 1,23,000 new cases of cervical cancer, which mainly affects those in the 15-44 age group. More than 70,000 Indian women die of it each year. Dr Pravin Vedpathak, Maharashtra immunisation officer, said: "Two years ago, we had sent a proposal estimating the state has 55.
87 lakh girls in the 9-14 age group eligible to take the HPV vaccine . This number will have to be revised again if we have to submit a fresh proposal. We would also need money to mobilise staff, plan logistics and invest in additional manpower to launch a vaccination campaign.
We haven't received any word. Last year, we received some funds, but because there were no vaccines to roll out, we couldn't launch the vaccination programme." Oncologists have said that it's critical the vaccine is rolled out under the UIP.
Dr Sumit Shah, consultant surgical oncologist at Prolife Cancer Centre & Research Institute, said: "Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women after breast cancer. Cervical cancer mortality is also very high, almost 30%, mainly due to delayed diagnosis. Women often think symptoms are just menstrual irregularities.
" Dr Shah said more than 95% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV. "This can be prevented by vaccinating girls between 9 and 15 years of age, or before they become sexually active. HPV vaccine prevents almost 99% of cervical cancer cases.
Govt authorities in charge of public health should consider adding HPV jabs to routine immunisation programmes," he said..
