In a significant public health achievement for Northeast India, a non-profit organisation in Assam has successfully vaccinated 3,000 women against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in a span of just seven months. This initiative by Pratishruti marks the largest HPV vaccination coverage accomplished by any non-profit entity in India within such a short timeframe.
A Community-Driven Fight Against a Leading Cancer
Cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women across India, making prevention strategies critically important. Pratishruti, led by a dedicated team of doctors, healthcare workers, and volunteers, has taken a proactive stance by offering free HPV vaccinations. Their primary focus is on daughters of women who have battled cervical cancer and families from economically disadvantaged backgrounds affected by various cancers.
While some hospitals in Assam do provide the HPV vaccine, health experts consistently argue that widespread protection for all eligible age groups can only be achieved when the government integrates the vaccine into its universal immunisation programme. The effort by Pratishruti is a powerful stop-gap measure, demonstrating what is possible through community action.
From Survey to Statewide Vaccination Drive
The project's genesis lies in a survey conducted in early 2025 by Dr. Gayatri Gogoi, a cancer researcher and professor at Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh, and Sadiqah Kouser, an MBBS student. They assessed awareness and willingness towards HPV vaccination among 160 students in Upper Assam. The findings underscored an urgent need for large-scale, proactive vaccination initiatives to curb HPV-related diseases, including cervical cancer.
Dr. Gogoi, a known advocate for community-driven cancer awareness in the northeast, then collaborated with the Pratishruti Cancer and Palliative Trust to design a comprehensive project. The dual goals were to raise awareness about the vaccine's role in preventing cervical and other HPV-related cancers and to make the vaccines available at half the typical hospital price.
Record Coverage Across Multiple Districts
The vaccination campaign was launched in Dibrugarh on March 6, in partnership with the Indian Medical Association Dibrugarh and the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society of India, Assam. It quickly expanded to multiple locations across the state through strategic collaborations.
Subsequent drives were successfully held in:
- Guwahati with Nemcare Hospital
- Dhemaji
- Jorhat at Satyam Hospital
- Sibsagar
- Diphu at DMCH
- Nalbari at IHA House
- Tezpur at Sankara Hospital and Research Centre
- Nagaon at SIMS Hospital
- Morigaon at Maternity Multispeciality Hospital
- Tinsukia with the Rotary Club
This extensive network enabled the programme to reach its milestone of 3,000 vaccinations. Dr. Gogoi affirmed that this represents the largest HPV vaccination coverage by a non-profit in India in a mere seven-month period. She emphasised that while not all cancers are preventable, cervical cancer can be effectively addressed through vaccination and regular screening.
Growing Administrative and Public Support
The initiative has garnered crucial support from local administrations and public representatives, signalling a positive shift in prioritising preventive healthcare. The Nagaon district administration, for instance, made HPV vaccination a priority, working to enhance both affordability and public education. Nagaon DC Debasish Sarma collaborated directly with Pratishruti and the Nagaon Medical College Hospital.
In a notable event, during the Independence Day parade on August 15, the public was sensitised about cancer, with free vaccinations sponsored by the Deepsikha Foundation and subsidised vaccines provided to 100 beneficiaries. Further demonstrating the growing momentum, Gohpur MLA Utpal Borah has announced plans to organise free vaccinations for 40 girls in his constituency on December 28.
The success of Pratishruti's campaign stands as a powerful model for community-led healthcare intervention. It highlights the potential for non-profit organisations to achieve significant scale in disease prevention, even as the call for a nationwide government-led HPV immunisation programme grows stronger.
