1. What is one thing about cervical cancer in your country that people in other countries might find surprising?
Diya: Considering India's population metrics, it's surprising that between 56% and 66.8% of women are completely unaware of cervical cancer despite national-level media dissemination and local health workers.
2. What is one thing you wish every girl knew about cervical cancer before reaching adulthood?
Diya: Vaccination safely covers one against cervical cancer which is mostly a sexually transmitted disease.
3. Is cervical cancer still regarded as a taboo subject in your country? If so, what are the consequences?
Diya: Yes — people don't mention the fact that it is sexually transmitted!! This results in less participation in screening, uncooperative partners, and fewer people taking the HPV vaccine.
4. Who do women trust most for information about cervical cancer, and where do they actually get their information?
Diya: Women trust local health workers, local HPV survivors/advocates, senior doctors, and community health workers. Information is provided and taught using pictures, graphical representations of organs, and HPV-related materials.
5. If you could change just one thing about cervical cancer prevention in your country, what would it be?
Diya: Change the linear health system that handles cervical cancer prevention, e.g., a top-down approach, and create a network of local women, advocates, health workers, tertiary healthcare centers, and primary centers to make it inclusive and impactful.
6. What could be done do to help improve understanding of cervical cancer in your country?
Diya: Same as above!!
Thanks and Regards!
Diya
India
HIFA profile: Diya Banerjee Sur is a Consultant, clinical trial head and patient advocate, at Kolkata Gynaecologial Oncology Trials and Research Group India. I am an Empathy Design Leader in Healthcare and health sciences with more than 25+ years of experience in global institutions like Oracle HSGBU, entrepreneur in Smartnirvana working with healthcare giants like Roche, GSK, AZ, Novartis and presently serving as a consultant in GCIG outfit for a clinical trial KOLGOTRG making lives of women better with a program called The Empathy Study. An advisor in Lancet Commission working on global health policies. Advisory in GCIG OCC, AIIMS Delhi on patient studies. IRB member in TATA MEDICAL CENTER, Kolkata Professional interestes: Mission to spread awareness and screen for HPV in remote villages of India. The mission started in 2023, has gained tremendous momentum, and has reached 1000+ women (https://youtu.be/szQ-q0khSkE?si=XfXcGVMvmiTtEL_e). Interested in policy making, advocacy, and empathy studies. Email address: banerjee.diya AT gmail.com