India's Cervical Cancer Crisis: 80,000 Deaths Annually Despite Being Preventable

• Cervical cancer claims nearly 80,000 lives annually in India, the highest globally, despite being largely preventable through vaccination and early screening.
• India accounts for almost one-fourth of the global cervical cancer burden, with late diagnosis, low awareness, and social stigma being major contributors to high mortality.
• Factors like myths about HPV vaccination, limited access, early marriages, and poor hygiene fuel the crisis, particularly affecting women aged 30-60.
• Experts emphasize early screening (PAP smears, HPV DNA tests) and vaccination as crucial, as the disease develops slowly and is detectable years before becoming dangerous.
• Systemic fixes include integrating HPV vaccination into the Universal Immunisation Programme, mandating screening for women over 30, and strengthening oncology infrastructure.

Why It Matters: India must prioritize prevention, screening, and vaccination to combat its devastating cervical cancer burden.