Almost 70,000 women die every year in India because of the dangerous disease which is known as cervical cancer! To reduce or eliminate this number, a lifesaving vaccine known as “human papillomavirus” (HPV) has been found, but hasn’t yet been approved to be used publicly.
Cervical cancer is one of the leading threats to women’s health, which kills one Indian woman in every 8 minutes! This has made cervical cancer one of the century’s most lethal cancers. In fact, it accounts for the second highest number of cancer related deaths. It has been predicted that if no step is taken to eliminate this fatal disease, there would be more than 40 million cervical cancer deaths worldwide between 2020 and 2069!
This is why it is very important to expand prevention programmes in the next few years to reduce the number of cervical cancer deaths. One step towards achieving this can be HPV vaccination. This vaccine has the potential to drive down cervical cancer rates to the extent that it would even disappear, with no tag of being a threat anymore, by the end of this century. In the process, millions of women can be saved against such fatal deaths. India accounts for a quarter of cervical cancer related deaths worldwide, making it the country with the highest percentage of such deaths. Even then, there is no sign of introducing this vaccine in the country.
There are two HPV types – 16 and 18 – that are responsible for 70% of cervical cancer cases. People with such cancers may also be prone to getting cancers in the anus, penis, vulva, vagina, mouth, and throat. Researchers estimate that using this new HPV vaccine can protect against these six strains of cancers and many others, thus preventing 90% of cervical cancers worldwide.
It has been found that the HPV vaccine is effective as a protective measure against cancer, making it very easy to mitigate cervical cancer. Then why isn’t India including this vaccine into its Universal Immunization Programme? This is not yet being understood. Public health experts have recommended efforts to be put in to bring in this vaccine to serve the public, after checking for all its pros and cons.
All we can do is wait and watch as to whether or not, and when this vaccine will enter the market. We can just pray that this vaccine proves its point completely so that 70,000 of our women can be saved every year. However, if you are passionate about putting in your efforts to save your people not only against deadly deaths related to cervical cancers, but many other ailments, you must take up clinical research as your career option. And for that, you must get enrolled with one of the best clinical research institutes in Bangalore. Avigna Clinical Research Institute is one institution you can rely upon, where you can be taught a self-designed up-to-date industry-integrated curriculum by reputed professionals, while also being sure to be 100% placed in top CROs, Bio-techs, and pharmaceutical companies after completing your course.
