AIIMS New Delhi Launches Free Cervical Cancer Screening Drive

Women aged 30–65 years can undergo cervical and breast cancer screening at the New RAK Building, AIIMS, from Monday to Friday between 9 AM and 3 PM.

HPV vaccination is available for girls aged 9–14 years on Saturdays from 9 AM to 12 noon.

In addition, AIIMS is conducting outreach and community screening drives across the NCI Jhajjar campus throughout January 2026 to expand access to preventive care and reach women in rural and semi-urban areas.

Dr Pallavi Shukla, Associate Professor of Preventive Oncology at AIIMS, highlighted the importance of early prevention, saying, “This is one cancer which is absolutely preventable. Women should not neglect their health at any age—we must make earnest efforts to eliminate cervical cancer from India.”

Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, with 6.6 lakh new cases and 3.5 lakh deaths in 2022.

In India, it ranks second, with approximately 1.27 lakh new cases and nearly 80,000 deaths annually, according to GLOBOCAN 2022.

Dr Neerja Bhatla explained that persistent high-risk HPV infections cause most cases, with early marriage, multiple pregnancies, smoking, reproductive tract infections, and weakened immunity increasing susceptibility.

Cervical cancer develops over a long precancerous phase of 10–15 years, allowing early detection and intervention.

WHO now recommends HPV testing over Pap smears for more accurate diagnosis, with at least two lifetime tests—at ages 35 and 45—crucial for prevention.

AIIMS’ initiative aims to raise awareness, encourage early diagnosis, and provide comprehensive preventive care, helping to reduce the cervical cancer burden and improve women’s health outcomes across India.

Also Read: School HPV Vaccination Programmes Offer Widespread Protection Against Cervical Cancer