Campaign to target nearly 13,000 girls aged 14
PANAJI
Goa has rolled out a major public health initiative aimed at curbing cervical cancer. The State health department launched the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign targeting nearly 13,000 girls aged 14 who will get the vaccine free of cost.
The single‑dose shot, officials say, is a crucial step toward bringing cervical cancer under control in the State and the campaign is part of a nationwide drive spearheaded by the Union government.
Dr Utkarsh Betodkar, Chief Medical Officer at the State Family Welfare Centre, said the vaccine is being administered before girls become sexually active, as HPV infection is primarily transmitted through sexual contact.
“Between 85 to 100 per cent of cervical cancer cases are linked to HPV. Vaccination at an early age reduces the risk of developing the disease by up to 93–100 per cent,” Betodkar explained.
Medical experts note that once HPV enters the body, the immune system often neutralizes it. However, in cases of weakened immunity, the virus can persist, leading to pre‑cancerous lesions. These lesions may take 10–15 years to progress into cancer.
For instance, a woman infected at 25 could develop cervical cancer by her mid‑30s or early 40s. Detecting and treating lesions at this stage can completely cure the condition, Dr. Betodkar emphasized.
Alongside vaccination, the health department is also conducting cancer screening programmes. Women found to have pre‑cancerous lesions are offered timely treatment, which significantly improves outcomes.
Numbers tell
a grim story
Data reveals the scale of the challenge. Between 2019 and 2023, 540 women in Goa were diagnosed with cervical cancer -- an average of nine new cases every month. From 2014 to 2023, the disease claimed 441 lives in the State.
Officials hope the vaccination drive will drastically reduce these figures in the coming years.
With this campaign, Goa joins the national effort to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat. Health authorities believe the initiative will save lives, empower women, and mark a turning point in the state’s fight against one of the most preventable forms of cancer.
