5th Anniversary of the World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer held by KRIAA Foundation at Dhauli Hills
Anil Dhir
Bhubaneswar 17 Nov: On the 5th Anniversary of the World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer, the KRIAA Foundation commemorated the 5th Anniversary at the Dhauli Hills this evening. As part of the observance, the iconic Dhauli Shanti Stupa was illuminated in teal blue, symbolising awareness, hope, and collective action.
The annual event is held to support this global movement and reaffirm the commitment to a cervical cancer free future. Lili Jenamani, Founder of KRIAA Foundation, called upon communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers to join hands in this mission. She said that Cervical cancer is not just a medical condition, but a social challenge, a public health concern, and, most importantly, a preventable tragedy. Each year, hundreds of thousands of women, especially of low and middle-income groups, face the devastating consequences of this disease which is preventable, treatable, and beatable.
The Day builds on a global movement that began on 17 Nov. 2020, when 194 countries collectively committed to eliminate a cancer for the first time and WHO launched a Global Strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem. Since then, communities, governments, and partners have united each year to expand access to HPV vaccination, high-performance screening, and treatment services. The World Health Organisation’s strategy is built on achievable targets. It envisages full HPV vaccination of 90% of girls by age 15, and 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by age 35 and again by 45.
These targets form the backbone of a global movement to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem within our lifetime. As part of this annual observance in November, monuments across India are illuminated in teal, the global symbol of cervical cancer awareness. On 17th November, the foundation lit up India Gate at New Delhi, today, the iconic Dhauli Shanti Stupa was bathed in a blue hue, spreading the message of prevention, screening, and hope for a cervical cancer free future.
The event was attended by Dr. Deepak Rautray, Director of the Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer, Anil Dhir, Historian and Social Activist and Dr. Bhagya Laxmi Nayak .
