Union health ministry officials stated on Wednesday that actress Poonam Pandey is not under consideration as the brand ambassador for the government’s national campaign aimed at raising awareness about cervical cancer. This clarification follows earlier reports suggesting that Pandey might be chosen as the campaign’s spokesperson, with discussions purportedly underway between her team and ministry officials.
Death Hoax
Earlier this month, there was widespread coverage of Poonam Pandey’s purported ‘death’ from cervical cancer, sparking considerable discussion on social media. However, it was subsequently revealed that the news was fabricated as part of a publicity stunt orchestrated by the actress and her team to raise awareness about the seriousness of cervical cancer.
In a video shared on her official Instagram page on February 3, Pandey confirmed her well-being, stating, “I feel compelled to share something significant with you all – I am here, alive.” She further emphasized, “Cervical cancer didn’t claim me, but tragically, it has claimed the lives of thousands of women due to a lack of knowledge about how to combat this disease.” The 32-year-old actress used the opportunity to underscore the importance of understanding and addressing cervical cancer.
The Union health ministry had stated last month that it is actively monitoring the incidence of cervical cancer in the country and maintaining regular communication with states and various health departments regarding this issue.
India, representing about 16 percent of the world’s female population, unfortunately, bears a significant burden of cervical cancer, accounting for approximately a quarter of all global cervical cancer cases and nearly a third of cervical cancer-related deaths worldwide.
Officials have reported that Indian women face a lifetime cumulative risk of 1.6 percent of developing cervical cancer and a cumulative death risk of one percent from the disease. Recent estimates suggest that around 80,000 women in India are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, with approximately 35,000 deaths attributed to the disease.
Currently, there are vaccines available in the Indian market to combat cervical cancer. The Serum Institute’s domestically manufactured vaccine, CERVAVAC, is available in the private sector at approximately Rs 2,000 per dose. Additionally, MSD Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Merck Sharp and Dohme (known as Merck and Co, Inc in the US and Canada), offers its HPV vaccine Gardasil 4 (quadrivalent vaccine) in India, priced at approximately Rs 3,927 per dose.
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