<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">GANGTOK, (IPR):</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif"> Health minister G.T. Dhungel attended the “State-Level White Paper Dissemination on the HPV Self-Sampling campaign in Sikkim” at a local hotel in Gangtok today.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Sikkim has pioneered a pilot project for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling to screen for cervical cancer, particularly in Gangtok district, aimed at improving early detection and accessibility. Previously, patients avoided screening due to social stigma and shyness, but self-sampling has led to the early detection of hundreds of cases. Utilizing ASHA workers, the programme enables women to collect samples at home or in private settings, with over 99% finding it easy and non-embarrassing. The initiative is part of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), involving Jhpiego and the Government of Sikkim.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Minister G.T. Dhungel, in his address, applauded Health department for covering 90% of school-going girls, which makes Sikkim the first State to achieve this milestone in India. The minister credited the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang for this milestone. He also thanked Health secretary Tshewang Gyachho, State Health IEC officer Dr. Sonam G. Bhutia, officers, doctors, nurses, health workers and representatives of Jhpiego for this achievement.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The minister cited the 90-70-90 formula, wherein 90% of girls are fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15, 70% of women are screened with high-performance tests by ages 35 and 45, and 90% of identified cervical disease cases receive treatment. He congratulated state officials on exceeding the objectives through implementation of this formula and expressed hope that continued efforts of the same magnitude will establish Sikkim as an exemplary state in India in HPV screening and help eradicate cervical cancer in the state.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">In his concluding remarks, the minister extended warm greetings to officers and officials of the department for the release of the White Paper on HPV Self-Sampling in Sikkim.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Health principal director Pema Seden Lepcha, in her keynote address, marked today as an important event in the health sector of Sikkim with the release of the White Paper featuring pioneering efforts by officers, doctors and health officials in the campaign to screen and eradicate cervical cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">She cited that cervical cancer, although preventable if detected early, had a high mortality rate due to social stigma, but the new self-sample collection method has helped save thousands of lives in the state. She also thanked the efforts of ASHA workers, nurses, laboratory team and technical experts in achieving this milestone.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The principal director urged stakeholders to come together and strengthen the initiative to make Sikkim a model state in preventing cervical cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">PDHS Dr. Sangeeta Pradhan, in her PowerPoint presentation, deliberated on various issues such as cervical cancer and its causes, self-sampling collection, transport and management workflow, report of HPV tests by self-sampling for cervical cancer screening in Sikkim, age-wise distribution of women screened, challenges faced during self-sampling collection, key activities during the campaign, and the way forward. She also spoke at length about opportunities for collaboration and partnerships with stakeholders and pharmaceutical companies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Dr Anusha Lama, former PDHS-cum-MD, National Health Mission, spoke about the journey of HPV self-sampling in the State from its infancy to its fruition today with the release of the White Paper. She also spoke about challenges and solutions towards achieving this goal and thanked all hard-working officers, doctors, nurses, and health officials for achieving a milestone that puts Sikkim on the national map for HPV self-sampling.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The day saw the formal release of the White Paper on HPV Self-Sampling for Cervical Cancer Screening in Sikkim through the hands of the Health minister and dignitaries on the dais. The White Paper documents a detailed report on HPV self-sampling in Sikkim. An interactive session between senior doctors, stakeholders and representatives of pharmaceutical companies also took place during the meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">During the meeting, the following officials were presented certificates of appreciation for their contribution to the HPV self-sampling campaign in Sikkim: Dr Suranjeen Pallipamula, senior director, Jhpiego; Dr Asutosh Padhi, national program manager, Jhpiego; Harki Maya Tamang, State program officer, Jhpiego; Aparna Sharma, consultant, Jhpiego; and Silash Yaku Rai, lab technician.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The event also had National Health Mission MD Dr Bikash Pradhan, senior officers, doctors, and health officials.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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