Cervical cancer, a preventable disease, claims the lives of over 77,000 women in India each year, accounting for 25% of global cervical cancer fatalities. The HPV vaccine, proven to be highly effective, is a critical tool in eliminating this public health threat by vaccinating 90% of girls aged 9 to 14.
To combat cervical cancer in India, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The collaboration, announced at the All India Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology conference, is supported by the Cancer Foundation of India and the American Cancer Society. It aims to eradicate cervical cancer through widespread HPV vaccination and public health education.
Building on FOGSI’s success in training over 10,000 members in 2024, this initiative will equip IMA – the largest medical society in India – with evidence-based guidelines and strategies to confidently advocate for HPV vaccination. The one-year training program will train 50,000 IMA physicians, including general practitioners, gynaecologists, and pediatricians, in tier 2, 3, and 4 cities.
Dr. Dilip Bhanushali, national president of IMA, emphasized that providing physicians with accurate knowledge will help close awareness gaps and increase HPV vaccine uptake. “Advocating for HPV vaccination is a personal mission to protect future generations of Indian girls from cervical cancer,” he said.
Dr. Priya Ganesh Kumar, national convenor of FOGSI’s HPV program, stressed the need for more physicians to champion the HPV vaccine, one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer. This initiative supports the Indian government’s efforts to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer by addressing vaccine hesitancy and promoting HPV vaccination as part of the universal immunization program.
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