Empowering Preventive Healthcare

Cancer has attracted considerable attention in recent years , given an increasing incidence in selected populations over the past three decades the discovery of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection as the driver of the increase, as opposed to the traditional risk factors such as tobacco (smoking and chewing) and alcohol.

According to WHO 110 countries have introduced HPV into their national routine immunization schedules, with 10 new introductions planned by the end of 2021.

Systematic reviews attribute low rates of HPV vaccination coverage to a multitude of factors, such as limited parental knowledge and awareness of the HPV vaccine, lack of a provider recommendation, and concerns about the side effects and efficacy of the vaccine.

World Health Organisation has recommended that sexually naive girls and girls between the ages of nine and 13 years be vaccinated against HPV. The problem is the lack of awareness, nobody has heard about it. Only a few know about cervical cancer and even less know that it is a preventable disease.

Even the ones, who have cervical cancer and know it is preventable, don't want to go for treatment, so we lose many in the treatment cycle. HPV vaccination in a country like India is one of the most important things that we can do to address the issue of cancer.

To address this very important subject where the theme would focus on topics like lack of HPV vaccine awareness/information, misinformation about HPV, lack of communication, financial issues relating to uptake, demographic/perceived and social norms. ASSOCHAM is bringing a series of scientific and purpose-driven conversations that raise awareness of the women cancers especially HPV related diseases and cancers and the need for HPV vaccines as a critical part of preventive health with CFI as knowledge partner.

The second session of this important series is scheduled to be held on September 08, 2021 at 5 PM (IST).

The session will also go live on ASSOCHAM Facebook Page - https://m.facebook.com/ASSOCHAM4Ind/?tsid=0.5125099357078726&source=result