[*Note from HIFA moderator (NPW): Thank you Diya for this valuable conrtibution. This is the first message relating to our upcoming HIFA discussion on cervical cancer in collaboration with WHO. The discussion starts officially on 19 October but early contributions are welcome and will be included in our synthesis. www.hifa.org/cervicalcancer ]
Hello fellow HIFA members,
I am Diya Banerjee Sur from India.
'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@gmail.com'
A little bit about my work on cervical cancer in remote villages of India:
My story…. “Lived” Experience and the creation of a pillar of women empowerment for remote villages women in Sundarbans (Patharpratima block) – West Bengal – India
Witness my journey by noted film makers on social causes – Greenhub https://youtu.be/szQ-q0khSkE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxpK1-ozkpU
Testimonials for village women - https://youtu.be/1m-43Fab0u4?si=rpa30CNX9MNLApBu
Women empowered - https://youtu.be/CdqeoReP9AU?si=50KBsAn5DfMQiy7s
Being a cancer survivor, the first realization was to extend healthcare privileges to women in remote villages of Sundarbans.
The mission to make remote village women like the ones in Sundarbans cancer free, our mission started back in 2023.
Nature Mates NGO together with the support of Chittaranajan Cancer Institute and Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata has achieved to sensitize and screen for HPV for more than 1000+ women over 20 cancer awareness and treatment camps in remote villages of Sundarbans. These villages lack basic medical or screening access making the mission even more necessary.
More than 15% of women in the cohort were detected with HPV+ and treated.
We continue our mission to reach and cover the entire population in these Indian villages. The local women are empowered and trained to run these camps for awareness, sensitization, data collection, HPV testing and follow-ups.
To maximize reach and impact 20,000+ families, we empower local women to conduct awareness and train ASHA/local health workers to create cancer awareness and monitor them as part of the Non-Communicable Disease program with local health system support. It's the first of its kind in India!
Following are my learnings and answers to the HIFA questions, provided inline:
1. In your experience, how is cervical cancer generally perceived in your community, workplace, or professional setting? What concerns, beliefs, or attitudes stand out to you most?
Diya: In the remote villages of India where I work with the local women, about 90% are unaware of cervical cancer, and those who have heard of it do not understand the gravity of the disease. Also cancer is generally perceived in village populations as a death threat while many feel that if they don't have any symptoms, then they are safe. Very little is known about treatments and survival statistics, so my mission on working with this population has been to spread the information, screen, treat, and break myths.
2. What questions about cervical cancer screening or treatment do people most often ask you?
Diya:
"Will it disrupt sex life?"
"Does HPV positive mean cancer?"
3. Have you encountered any information, beliefs, or messages about cervical cancer, screening or treatment that you consider inaccurate, misleading, or confusing?
Diya: Myth/belief in villages of India: The HPV vaccine can destroy the reproductive capabilities of a girl child.
4. Can you share an example where information or misinformation influenced someone's decision to seek (or avoid) screening?
Diya: In the villages where I work, awareness sessions have spread like wildfire, and women are coming in large numbers for screening and treatment.
On the contrary, due to the wrong belief about the HPV vaccine, girls of that age are refusing to take the vaccine.
5. What sources of cervical cancer information do you or people in your setting rely on most? Which sources are especially helpful, and where do you see important gaps or weaknesses?
Diya: The best tried and tested sources are word-of-mouth, awareness sessions by locals, miking, radio, posters, school education.
6. Can you suggest one recommendation to help ensure that every person has access to reliable information on cervical cancer?
Diya: Information dissemination depends on population dynamics like urban vs rural, literate vs illiterate, social status etc.
The best medium in today's world is, of course, social media through informative reels, since the internet reaches every household even in India.
Thanks and Regards!
Diya
+917337577790'
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