Nadda at WHO briefing: 86 million women screened for cervical cancer; WHO chief hails HPV drive
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda virtually addressed a press briefing at WHO headquarters on 5 March 2026, reaffirming India's commitment to eliminating cervical cancer.
Summary
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda virtually addressed a press briefing at World Health Organization headquarters on 5 March 2026, reaffirming India's commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem. Nadda said over 86 million women have been screened under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), and that VIA-based screening is available at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs for women aged 30â65. He said the HPV vaccination drive is based on voluntary participation and parental consent. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called India's HPV vaccination campaign, launched by PM Modi and targeting 12 million adolescent girls, the world's largest free vaccination drive.
Key facts
- Date
- 5 March 2026
- Event
- WHO HQ press briefing (virtual)
- Screened
- 86 million+ women under NP-NCD
- Screening
- VIA at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, women 30â65
- HPV drive
- Targets 12 million adolescent girls; voluntary, with parental consent
- WHO view
- Tedros: world's largest free vaccination drive
Practice MCQs 2 questions
India's nationwide HPV vaccination campaign, praised by the WHO Director-General on 5 March 2026, targets how many adolescent girls?
Show answer
Correct answer: C â 12 million
Dr Tedros praised the campaign targeting 12 million adolescent girls as the world's largest free vaccination drive.
HPV vaccination, discussed by J.P. Nadda at the WHO briefing, is mainly meant to prevent which cancer?
Show answer
Correct answer: A â Cervical cancer
The briefing was on India's commitment to eliminating cervical cancer through HPV vaccination and screening.