MSD Pharma, Apollo Cradle Launch Cancer Preventive Care

Hyderabad: City-based Apollo Cradle and Children’s Hospital and US-headquartered MSD Pharmaceuticals, partnered for an initiative, ‘Together for her well-being,’ that aims at raising awareness about HPV related cancers, with India having reported over 1.5 lakh cases in 2022. About 211 women above 40 years of age coming from lower and middle income families die every day of cervical cancer in India, Dr Padmini Silpa, Senior Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology, Apollo Cradle and Children’s Hospital – Kondapur, told media here on Monday.

She further said that six HPV vaccines from different pharma companies are available across the world, while in India three vaccines are present in the market from 2008, while the fourth vaccine is being developed. HPV vaccination when administered to girls in the age group of nine to 14 years, is likely to prevent certain HPV related diseases and cancer like cervical cancer, she added. However, as the available HPV vaccines provide protection against certain virus strains only, annual check-ups and screening through pap smears can help in early detection of potential health issues like cervical cancer, Dr Silpa said. Dr A Mahitha Reddy, Senior Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology, Apollo Cradle and Children’s Hospital – Jubilee Hills, spoke about the 90-70-90 strategy launched by World Health Organisation in 2020 to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.

She further elaborated that the strategy has three targets which includes, 90 per cent of girls are fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by age 15, 70 per cent of women are screened by age 35 and again by age 45, and 90 per cent of the women with pre-cancerous lesions are treated and those with invasive cancer are managed. Dr Jasmin Rath, Senior Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology, Apollo cradle and Children’s Hospital, highlighted the need for women to learn about preventive healthcare and paying attention to early signs of health issues.