In a landmark move to eliminate cervical cancer in Jharkhand, the National Health Mission (NHM), Jharkhand, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Women Doctors’ Wing of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Jharkhand. This partnership is aimed at strengthening the ongoing efforts of the IMA’s Cervical Cancer Eradication campaign in the state.
With this collaboration, Jharkhand has become the first state in India where an IMA branch has been officially recognized as a partner of the National Health Mission.
Since 2014, the Women Doctors' Wing of IMA, Jharkhand, has been dedicated to eliminating cervical cancer in some of the state's most underserved and remote areas. They have conducted large-scale health camps for women in Naxal-affected and distant regions including Gua, Goelkera, and Tonto in West Singhbhum, and Deoghar, Jamtara, Pakur, and Sahibganj in Santhal Pargana.
The ‘Jharkhand Model’ for cervical cancer screening was launched in 2021 through a joint initiative between the Jharkhand Health Department and Nari Shakti Award recipient Dr. Bharti Kashyap, Chairperson of IMA Jharkhand’s Women Doctors’ Wing. This model has surpassed expectations in terms of its effectiveness and outreach.
In India, cervical cancer claims the lives of around 67,000 women annually. It is the second most common cancer among Indian women, yet it is also one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer. The introduction of the Jharkhand Model significantly boosted the campaign’s impact, helping it meet and exceed its screening goals.
Initially, the target was to screen approximately 2.7 lakh women, but under the Jharkhand Model, about 5 lakh women—particularly those showing symptoms of genital inflammation or considered at high risk—have been screened. Additionally, 2,792 women have received cryotherapy treatment for cervical erosion, a condition that could develop into cervical cancer if left untreated.
At the MoU signing, Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari stated, “This MoU, which had been pending for years, marks a major step by our government in the battle against cervical cancer. It is the first such initiative of its kind in India and will serve as a benchmark for other states.”
Dr. Bharti Kashyap emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in the campaign. Despite exceeding the overall screening target, certain districts have yet to meet their goals, and new cases continue to emerge annually.
She also noted that, through the Jharkhand Model, not only women of reproductive age are being screened and treated, but also government gynecologists in remote locations are receiving ongoing training. These healthcare professionals are being equipped to identify pre-cancerous conditions using VIA and VILI tests and to perform colposcopy-guided cryotherapy with the help of oncogynecologists from Delhi and Kolkata. As a result, a strong network of trained gynecologists has been established, and cervical pre-cancer detection and treatment facilities have been set up in 14 major government hospitals across the state.