Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
India loses one woman every 8 minutes to cervical cancer — and almost every death is preventable.
India accounts for nearly a quarter of the world's cervical-cancer deaths every year, even though HPV vaccination + regular screening would prevent almost all of them. Stigma, cost myths, and missing reminders kill more women than the disease itself.
What we do every January
HPV vaccine explainer
A two-minute card in 7 languages: who needs it, when, where, how much. WhatsApp + Care home tile.
Screening locator
In-Care map of nearby Pap-smear + HPV-DNA providers, with cost transparency and call buttons.
Pucho voice line
Dial-in for women without smartphones — 10 most-asked HPV + screening questions in a doctor's voice.
January cadence
- Jan 1Kickoff
Doodle takeover. WhatsApp opt-in opens.
- Jan 4World Cancer Day (Feb 4 prep)
Daily cards begin: HPV facts, vaccine timing, screening basics.
- Jan 15Mid-month
Screening-reminder push for any Care user who hasn't logged a Pap in 3+ years.
- Jan 31Wrap
Sakhi AMA: gynaecologist answers the month's top questions, archived to /campaigns/cervical-cancer-awareness.
Common questions
Who needs the HPV vaccine?
Indian guidelines recommend HPV vaccination for girls 9–14 (two doses) and 15–26 (three doses). Catch-up is offered up to 45 in many private clinics. Boys benefit too — they carry HPV. Talk to your clinician about your situation.
I am already married. Is the vaccine still worth it?
Yes, in many cases. The vaccine protects against HPV strains you have not yet been exposed to. Most adults have not been exposed to all 9 strains the modern vaccine covers. Ask a gynaec — see /care/care-team.
When should I start screening?
Pap smear from 21 (or within 3 years of becoming sexually active), every 3 years if normal. HPV-DNA testing from 30, every 5 years. Talk to a clinician about your personal history — see /care/care-team.
What is a Pap smear like?
A 2-minute outpatient test. The clinician uses a small brush to collect cells from the cervix. Mild discomfort, not pain. Results in a few days. The test does not affect fertility or future pregnancy in any way.
Is the screening covered by insurance?
Most Indian health-insurance policies cover cervical screening when ordered as part of a preventive package or after symptoms. Government schemes (Ayushman Bharat) cover screening in empanelled centres. Confirm before booking.
I am 34 and assumed cervical cancer was for older women. The January card on WhatsApp pushed me to book a Pap — it came back abnormal but early-stage. I am here because of a card.
Keep going
This campaign is one nudge. Here's where it leads on SHELY.
Get notified about the next campaign
One short email per week, plus a heads-up when the next women's-health campaign goes live. Indian voices, no spam.
Related campaigns
World Cancer Day
One week, three women's cancers (cervical, breast, ovarian) — what to know, when to screen, how to act.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
India's commonest women's cancer. Catching it early changes everything — and it starts with knowing your own normal.
First Period · Welcome to the Flow
Year-round. The first time a user logs a first-ever period in Care, this whole experience triggers.