The Dimapur District Task Force on Immunization (DTFI) on Friday reviewed the global and national burden of cervical cancer and underscored the urgency of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination ahead of the district-wide campaign set to begin next week.
The meeting, held at the DC Conference Hall, was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Dimapur, Dr Tinojongshi Chang, NCS, who thanked stakeholders for their participation and called upon departments and partner agencies to intensify awareness efforts to ensure maximum coverage of eligible beneficiaries.
Regional Project Officer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), R Khartu presented the global status of HPV vaccine introduction. Citing data from the World Health Organization (WHO), he informed that 155 out of 194 countries have incorporated HPV vaccination into their national immunization programmes. In the WHO South-East Asia Region, nine of eleven countries have introduced the vaccine.
Referring to Globocan 2022 data, he noted that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, with an estimated 6,62,300 new cases and 3,48,874 deaths reported in 2022. The global age-standardized incidence rate stands at 14.1 per 1,00,000 women per year, while the mortality rate is 7.1 per 1,00,000 women per year. Without effective prevention measures, new cases are projected to rise significantly by 2030, he stated.
Officials explained that cervical cancer affects the cervix, the lower part of the uterus, and nearly 99.7 percent of cases are linked to persistent infection with high-risk HPV types. While HPV infection is common and often asymptomatic, long-term persistence can lead to cancer.
The meeting also highlighted the WHO’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030 through achieving the 90-70-90 targets: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by age 15; 70% of women screened with a high-performance test; and 90% of women diagnosed with cervical disease receiving appropriate treatment.
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As per data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) 2022, cervical cancer is the second leading cancer among women in India. The age-standardized incidence rate is 11.6 per 1,00,000 women per year, with a mortality rate of 5.1 per 1,00,000 women per year.
In 2022, India recorded an estimated 79,103 new cases and 34,805 deaths due to cervical cancer.
District Programme Officer (UIP & RCH), CMO Office Dimapur, Dr Rongsennungla provided details of the district campaign. She informed that the drive would target girls aged 14 years—those who have completed 14 years but have not yet turned 15—and would be implemented over a three-month period at designated Cold Chain Points (CCPs).
The vaccine to be administered is Gardasil (quadrivalent), which protects against HPV serotypes 6, 11, 16 and 18. The 0.5 mL dose would be administered intramuscularly in the left upper arm and stored at +2°C to +8°C under strict cold chain management.
Vaccination would take place at health facilities equipped with Cold Chain Points (CCPs) and internet connectivity for registration on the U-WIN portal. Teams would comprise vaccinators (ANM/LHV/Nurse), mobilizers (ASHA/AWW/Link Workers), verifiers and other health personnel.
Officials reiterated that the nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign for all girls aged 14 years would be virtually launched on February 28, 2026, by the Prime Minister of India from Ajmer, Rajasthan.
In Dimapur, the campaign would commence from March 2, at identified health facilities. Officials expressed confidence that coordinated efforts, inter-departmental cooperation and community awareness would ensure the successful rollout of the initiative aimed at preventing cervical cancer and protecting adolescent girls’ health.
