The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Government to provide vaccines for cervical cancer virus to women

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 26, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Government to provide vaccines for cervical cancer virus to women

Special Correspondent

Disease affects 40 women in every one lakh population: Minister

CHENNAI: The Government will provide vaccines for cervical cancer-causing Human Papilloma Virus to girls over 18 years, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said on Saturday.

Cancer cervix, the second largest type after breast cancer, is said to affect 40 women in every one lakh population. Two strains of the virus are known to cause over 70 per cent of cancer cervix; hence, giving the vaccine to women at risk will prevent a large number of cases.

Dr. Anbumani said the Government would begin the vaccination programme with women who are 18 years old and later move on to girls between 13 and 18 years.

Addressing the 23rd annual conference of the Obstetric and Gynaecological Society of Southern India (OGSSI), he laid stress on achieving comprehensive well being of women, instead of merely focussing on OG health.

Issues such as osteoporosis, cancer of the breast, gestational diabetes and anaemia would have to be addressed to ensure that women led a healthy life.

He congratulated Tamil Nadu on providing the best healthcare facilities in the country.

For instance, the Muthulaksmi Reddy Maternal Health Assistance Scheme, through which pregnant women were provided Rs.6,000 three months before and after delivery, was unprecedented.

He also appreciated "chiranjeevi," a pilot project initiated in five districts in Gujarat, for lowering maternal mortality and the number of Caesareans.

A sum of Rs.100 crore had been allotted to Tamil Nadu (Rs.75 crore for developing the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Egmore, and Rs.25 crore for the Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women, Triplicane). The IOG would serve as a Centre of Excellence for training and practice of Obstetrics.

Fund release sought

State Health Minister KKSSR Ramachandran explained the components of the Muthulakshmi Reddy scheme and the various methods adopted by the State to cut down maternal and infant mortality rates.

Appreciating the Centre for extending much support to the State, he urged Dr. Anbumani to facilitate speedy release of the Rs.100 crore for the IOG and the KGH.

Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj said the birth companion, 24-hour comprehensive emergency maternity and newborn care centres and verbal autopsy in case of maternal death were the schemes introduced to improve maternal health.

However, areas of concern continued to be high infant mortality rate, anaemia among pregnant women and adolescent girls, low birth weight babies, reproductive tract and sexually transmitted infections and cancer of the cervix. The Government was striving to address these issues.

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