Nurses at the forefront in cervical cancer: HPV vaccine promotion to combat the deadly disease in India.

Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if detected early and treated at the right time. Most of these deaths (94%) occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) due to limited access to screening, vaccination, and treatment services. The death from cervical cancer is nearly 100% preventable if the precancerous lesion is detected early and treated at the right time. Nurses and community health workers play a key role in increasing public awareness, early identification, and screening of cervical cancer, as well as implementing vaccination against Human Papillomavirus (HPV). In India, alarmingly, the screening rates are meager, especially in rural and remote areas, leading to delays in diagnosis and inadequate treatment, and contributing to loss of life. World Health Organization (WHO) has set ambitious goals to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem through its Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination, aiming to achieve them by 2030. The community health officers conduct both population-based screening and health facility-based screening for all individuals covered by their Ayushman Arogya Mandir. This integrated approach ensures women receive timely and appropriate care, reducing the burden of cervical cancer on families and the healthcare system. Nurses play a critical role in actively promoting HPV vaccination to combat the deadly disease.