‘Cervical cancer is preventable, HPV vaccine must’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 20

Phulkari-CAN, a philanthropic wing of Phulkari-Women of Amritsar, conducted its 44th cervical cancer awareness session at Guru Nanak Dev University on Monday. The event was held to mark World Cervical Cancer Awareness Day under the ‘Conquer Cancer’ programme of the NGO.

More than 350 persons were apprised of simple measures that could be adopted to prevent the completely preventable cancer. The session was conducted by Dr Mridu Gupta, CEO, CAPED, an organisation working in the field of cervical cancer prevention, and Dr Rajeev Gupta, medical oncologist and haematologist.

Dr Rajeev Gupta, while expressing his concern about cervical cancer, said: “It is the need of the hour to outreach potential population for screening and early detection of cervical cancer and treatment. Being an AIDS defining illness, it is mandatory to educate people about safe sexual practices to avoid HPV infection and subsequent cervical cancer. Since the cancer is preventable, vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) will prevent about 70% of cervical, 80% of anal cancers, 60% of vaginal cancers and about 90% genital warts in population. Therefore, vaccination should be made mandatory and included in the National Immunisation Programme by the Union and Punjab Governments.”

Phulkari-CAN commenced a drive to eradicate cervical cancer in the state, in September 2018, in collaboration with knowledge partner CAPED. Within a year, they organised 44 awareness sessions at several prestigious institutions of the city and have brought 1,60,000 people under the umbrella of cervical cancer awareness. About 250 underprivileged women have been provided free cervical cancer screening. Phulkari CAN, through the Conquer Cancer programme, continues to work towards fulfilling its grand dream of seeing Punjab become the first cervical cancer-free state,” said Dr Rashmi Vij, member of Phulkari-CAN.

The session was attended by the Commissioner of Police, Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, and leading doctors from the city, including Dr Santokh Singh, Dr Inderbir Nijjer and Dr Jasjit Chachhi.

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