WASHINGTON, DC – Radiation oncologist Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori, a 2026 Padma Bhushan awardee, has said HPV vaccination could give India a decisive advantage in its fight against cervical cancer and help eliminate the disease in the coming years.
“Now, with the HPV vaccination, we have an upper hand, and in few years, we’ll be able to eliminate cancer of the cervix from India,” Nori said.
Describing cervical cancer as preventable, detectable and curable, Nori said the continued loss of lives from the disease remains particularly distressing for oncologists. “Cancer of the cervix is preventable, is detectable, is treatable and curable,” he said.
Nori said about 200 women die of cervical cancer every day in India. He welcomed the introduction of free HPV vaccination for girls, saying it could substantially strengthen prevention efforts.
Nori added that India had expanded cancer and outpatient centers, provided financial assistance to patients and made imported chemotherapy medicines more affordable.
Nori, who has lived in the United States for about 50 years, was named a Padma Bhushan recipient in medicine in 2026. The honor is India’s third-highest civilian award. (IANS)
