As the world observes International Women’s Day, India’s interim Union Budget 2024-25 has emerged as a beacon of hope, particularly in the realm of women’s health. The Narendra Modi government’s support in encouraging the vaccination of girls (from nine to 14 years) against cervical cancer stands out as a pivotal move towards safeguarding women’s well-being.
The ‘90-70-90’ targets, global programmes
Despite advances in health care, cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India, with 1.27 lakh cases and around 80,000 deaths being reported annually. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a primary culprit in the development of cervical cancer. In response to this pressing public health challenge, HPV vaccination emerged as a cornerstone of a comprehensive strategy for disease prevention and health promotion. The World Health Organization has outlined the ‘90-70-90’ targets by 2030 — for 90% of girls to be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15, for 70% of women to undergo cervical cancer screening tests by the age of 35 and 45, and for 90% of women with cervical cancer to be treated. These targets represent milestones in the global effort to eradicate cervical cancer and highlight the pivotal role of India’s call for HPV vaccination in achieving this goal.
