The Serum Institute of India (SII) is spearheading a national public health campaign that includes the launch of the “Conquer HPV & Cancer Conclave 2025″ in Kolkata. With a focus on early intervention and prevention, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and its connection to cervical and other cancers.

India still has a high rate of HPV-related illnesses, especially cervical cancer, which is still the second most common cancer among Indian women.

Through discussion and information exchange, the conclave series seeks to unite local communities, medical professionals, and healthcare workers to address this pressing issue.

The public health implications of HPV were discussed in detail by a panel of medical experts at the event in Kolkata.

The panel consisted of Dr. Pallab Chattopadhyay, Consultant Pediatrician, Apollo Multispeciality Hospital, Dr. Abhijit Sarkar, President IAP Howrah branch, 2025-26, Senior Pediatric Consultant, Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Dr. Dipanwita Banerjee, Consultant, Gynaecological Cancer Surgeon, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Dr. Basab Mukherjee, Consultant Gynaecologist & Laparoscopic Surgeon, Calcutta Medical Research Institute, Columbia Asia Hospital and Dr. Dibyendu Banerjee, Head of the Department of G&O, at Charnock Hospital.

The session was moderated by Dr. Jaydeep Choudhury, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health.

Collectively, they emphasised the urgent need for awareness, the significance of reaching parents and teenagers, and the part that healthcare professionals play in directing preventive care.

Speakers stressed that HPV affects more than just cervical cancer. Male and female cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, penis, and oropharynx are also linked to it. Early awareness and prompt preventive action are crucial because the peak HPV infection occurs between the ages of 15 and 25.

The campaign’s overarching objective—to lessen the burden of preventable cancers through informed decision-making and community engagement—was reaffirmed at the Kolkata conclave’s end with an open discussion among attendees. In the upcoming months, the program will continue in cities all over the nation, giving reputable healthcare voices a platform to inform and empower the public.

For more details, visit: www.seruminstitute.com

Priyanka Dutta