Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: In a significant move to combat cancer in the Indo-Pacific region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced India’s commitment of $7.5 million to the Quad Moonshot Initiative, a collaborative effort between India, the US, Australia, and Japan. The initiative, led by the Quad nations, aims to reduce the cancer burdenin the region, with a particular focus on cervical cancer, a largely preventable disease that continues to pose a major health threat.
PM Modi made the announcement at the Quad Leaders’ Cancer Moonshot event, hosted by US President Joe Biden. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in cancer care, stating, “In cancer care, collaboration is essential for cure. An integrated approach encompassing prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment is essential to reduce the burden of cancer.”
Focus on Cervical Cancer Prevention
The Quad Moonshot Initiative will initially concentrate on addressing cervical cancer, the second-most prevalent cancer among women in India. PM Modi highlighted India’s cost-effective cervical cancer screening programme and pointed to the development of India’s first indigenous HPV vaccine, produced by the Serum Institute of India in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
“India has developed a very cost-effective cervical cancer vaccine and is actively working on expanding its screening programmes on a large scale,” Modi said, referring to India’s quadrivalent HPV vaccine, which aims to prevent infections caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a leading cause of cervical cancer.
Collaborative Cancer Care in the Indo-Pacific
The Quad Moonshot Initiative seeks to tackle the issue of cancer care through prevention, screening, and advanced treatment methods across the Indo-Pacific region. PM Modi reiterated India’s readiness to contribute in the areas of radiotherapy treatment and capacity building. This effort is part of a broader strategy to reduce the overall cancer burden, with future plans to expand the initiative’s scope to other types of cancer.
HPV Vaccine and National Immunisation Programme
Despite the availability of HPV vaccines to prevent cervical cancer, uptake has been low due to factors such as low awareness and high costs. The Indian government is considering the inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the national immunisation programme, as recommended by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI). However, logistical issues, such as the debate between administering a single dose versus a double dose, are yet to be resolved.
By pledging financial support and highlighting India’s leadership in cervical cancer prevention, PM Modi’s participation in the Quad Moonshot Initiative underscores the importance of global collaboration in tackling one of the most pressing health challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
