The “Conquer HPV & Cancer Conclave 2025” was launched today in Kolkataas part of a nationwide public health initiative led by the Serum Institute of India (SII). The campaign is focused on increasing awareness around Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and the role it plays in cervical and other cancers, with an emphasis on early intervention and prevention.
India continues to face a significant burden of HPV-related diseases, particularly cervical cancer, which remains the second most common cancer among women in the country. According to the ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer (2023), India reports over 1.23 lakh new cervical cancer cases and more than 77,000 related deaths annually. Apart from this up to 90% of anal cancers & 63% of penile cancers are associated with HPV.
The conclave series aims to bring together medical experts, healthcare professionals, and local communities to address this critical challenge through knowledge-sharing and dialogue.
At the Kolkata event, a panel of medical specialists engaged in an in-depth discussion about the public health implications of HPV. The panel included Dr. Pallab Chattopadhyay, Consultant Pediatrician, Apollo Multispeciality Hospital, Dr. Abhijit Sarkar, President IAP Howrah branch, 2025-26, Senior Pediatric Consultant, NarayanaSuperspeciality Hospital, Dr. Dipanwita Banerjee, Consultant, Gynaecological Cancer Surgeon, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute alongside Dr. Basab Mukherjee, Consultant Gynaecologist & Laparoscopic Surgeon, Calcutta Medical Research Institute, Columbia Asia Hospital and Dr. Dibyendu Banerjee, Head of the Department of G&O, at Charnock Hospital. The session was moderated by Dr. Jaydeep Choudhury, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health.
Together, they highlighted the pressing need for awareness, the importance of reaching both adolescents and parents, and the role of healthcare providers in guiding preventive care.
Speakers emphasized that HPV is not limited to cervical cancer alone. It is also associated with cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, penis, and oropharynx, affecting both men and women. With peak HPV infection occurring between ages 15 to 25, early awareness and timely preventive action are essential.
The Kolkata conclave concluded with an open dialogue involving audience members, reinforcing the broader goal of the campaign: to reduce the burden of preventable cancers through informed decision- making and community engagement. The initiative will continue in cities across the country in the coming months, creating platforms for credible voices in healthcare to educate and empower the public.
Serum Institute of India, headquartered in Pune, is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume and has played a longstanding role in advancing public health in India and globally.
Notes to remember:
Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd. the World’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, has been at the forefrontto offer affordable and high-quality vaccine innovations for over 5 decades. With a mission to protect lives globally, Serum Institute has made a landmark contribution to public health with the launch of Cervavac, India’s 1stIndigenously developed gender neutral quadrivalent HPV vaccine that can be given to both males and females.
• Cervical cancer ranks as the 2nd leading cause of female cancer in India
• Women at risk for Cervical cancer (aged >=15 yrs.) is 511.4 million(51.4 Crore)
• Annual no of Cervical cancer new cases: 1,23,907
• Annual no of Cervical cancer deaths: 77,348
Source: ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and cancer 2023
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