NEW DELHI, March 6 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign on 28 February by including it in India's Universal Immunization Programme to vaccinate 12 million girls annually. With 120,000 new cases and 80,000 deaths annually, India accounts for a quarter of global cervical cancer deaths.

Infection by certain HPV strains can cause precancerous cell changes, which may eventually lead to cancer.

Mint explains the rationale behind the plan to help stop cervical cancer - the second most common cancer among women in India - by leveraging the country's digital infrastructure and primary health centre network.

The aim is to prevent cervical cancer in girls before they are exposed t...