Delaware:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (local time) announced that India will contribute $7.5 million, including 40 million vaccine doses for Indo-Pacific countries under the GAVI and QUAD initiatives, to support the Quad’s efforts against cervical cancer in the region. He made the announcement at the Quad leaders’ Cancer Moonshot event, where other leaders also pledged action against cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific.
Speaking at the event in Delaware, PM Modi thanked US President Joe Biden and recalled that India had undertaken the Quad Vaccine Initiative for the Indo-Pacific during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I am glad that we at the Quad have decided to jointly address challenges like cervical cancer. In cancer treatment, collaboration is essential to find a cure. An integrated approach of prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment is needed to reduce the burden of cancer,” he said.
“The four leaders committed to detection, prevention and treatment of cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region. In line with India’s vision of ONE WORLD, ONE HEALTH, the Prime Minister announced allocation of a grant of US$ 7.5 million for cancer detection, diagnosis and screening in the Indo-Pacific region,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X.
India has developed its own vaccine against cervical cancer: PM Modi
Commenting on India’s achievements in this regard, the Prime Minister said that a large-scale and cost-effective cervical cancer screening programme is currently underway in India. “Moreover, India has the largest health insurance system in the world and special centres have also been set up to make medicines available to all at an affordable price,” he added.
PM Modi further said that India has developed its own vaccine for cervical cancer and new treatment protocols are being introduced with the help of artificial intelligence. “India is keen to share its experience and expertise. Today, many Indian experts working on cancer treatment have joined us at this event. India’s vision is One Earth, One Health. I am announcing support of sampling kits, detection kits and vaccines worth $7.5 million,” he said.
The Prime Minister further announced that India will also cooperate with other Quad members in radiotherapy treatment and capacity building. “I am happy that India is contributing 40 million doses of vaccines for the Indo-Pacific countries under the GAVI and QUAD initiatives. These 40 million doses of vaccines will become a ray of hope in the lives of millions of people. As you can see, when the QUAD acts, it is not just for nations. This is the very essence of our human-centric approach,” the Prime Minister said.
What is the Cancer Moonshot?
Officials had earlier announced that the Quad leaders are launching a health initiative aimed at combating cervical cancer. Cancer Moonshot is a pioneering partnership that aims to save lives in the Indo-Pacific region by fighting cervical cancer. India has pledged to provide HPV sampling kits, screening kits and cervical cancer vaccines worth $7.5 million to the Indo-Pacific region.
India, through its $10 million commitment to the WHO Global Digital Health Initiative, will offer technical assistance to interested countries in the Indo-Pacific region for the adoption and deployment of its Digital Public Infrastructure that helps in cancer detection and treatment, according to a joint statement.
The United States intends to support this initiative, including through U.S. Navy medical training and professional exchanges around cervical cancer prevention in the region beginning in 2025 and by opening the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to fund eligible private-sector-driven projects to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, including cervical cancer.
“Every year, 150,000 women die from cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region. We cannot and will not allow this to continue. All four of us are proud democracies. We are coming together to offer better hope, more hope for our people. In practice, the Quad Cancer Moonshot means greater collaboration between our hospitals, research centers and cancer foundations,” said US President Joe Biden at the event.
Japan has also offered support, such as the deployment of equipment and technical cooperation, or support through international organizations and initiatives to boost efforts against cervical cancer. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Saturday (local time) an expansion of its core commitment to the partnership for the elimination of cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region, in collaboration with the United States, India and Japan.
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