Sudha Murty Advocates Government-Supported Cervical Cancer Vaccination Program in Rajya Sabha Speech

In her inaugural address at the Rajya Sabha, philanthropist and author Sudha Murty emphasized the urgent need for a government-backed vaccination program to combat cervical cancer. She advocated for the vaccination of girls aged nine to 14, underscoring the importance of preventive measures. “Administering the cervical vaccination to girls between nine and 14 years old can help prevent cancer. Promoting this vaccination is crucial for the well-being of our girls, as prevention is always better than cure,” Murty asserted.

Murty also highlighted the indispensable role of mothers in families, sharing a poignant quote from her father: “When a mother dies, it is counted as one death in the hospital, but for the family, a mother is lost forever.” She expressed confidence in the government’s ability to manage extensive vaccination campaigns, drawing parallels to the successful COVID-19 vaccination drive. “The government successfully conducted a massive vaccination campaign during COVID-19, so providing cervical vaccinations to girls in the 9-14 age group should not be very challenging,” she noted.

She further mentioned that cervical vaccinations have been effectively utilized in Western countries for the past two decades. “The results have been very positive. The vaccination is not expensive—currently priced at Rs 1,400 for individuals like myself in the field. With government intervention and negotiation, the cost could be reduced to Rs 700-800. Given our large population, this would be highly beneficial for our girls in the future,” Murty added.

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