Training Gynecologists and Pediatricians in partnership with FOGSI and IAP to eliminate cervical cancer from India

Cervical cancer is on its way to elimination and one of the key strategies to eliminate it is to vaccinate 90% of young girls (9-14 years) against the Human papilloma virus (HPV) to prevent cervical cancer in their adulthood. Though licensed in 2008 in India the HPV vaccine is about to be rolled out through the Universal Immunisation Programme when all girls in the country will have access to the vaccine.

In preparation for the country-wide vaccination, this project conducted a behaviour change communication research in 2021 to identify the barriers and possible interventions to increase the uptake of HPV vaccination The results indicated that the most credible/trusted source of HPV vaccine information, for parents, are the physicians. Therefore, keeping the physicians at the centre, this phase of the research project developed an action guide in 2022 for pediatricians and gynecologists across the country. They are brought on the same platform to work collectively on cervical cancer prevention and be trained to become champions in recommending the vaccine with confidence.

It is for the first time in 2023 the two large medical societies Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) have been brought together by CFI to validate the research results by engaging their members across the country. In the current phase, 25% of members of both the medical societies, that is 20,000 physician members, are being trained nationally using research-based structured training modules to disseminate the message of HPV vaccination that is standardized. All members thus trained will have consistent messaging delivered to the right audience keeping the local sensibilities in mind.

This is a first-of-its-kind attempt in India to bring together pediatricians and gynecologists to spearhead the drive to eliminate cervical cancer from India through HPV vaccination.

FUNDED by: American Cancer Society.