26 JUL 2025, New Delhi
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has shared a big achievement: More than 10.18 crore women across India have been screened for cervical cancer. This important step is part of a national health program under Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) and the National Health Mission (NHM).
Women aged 30 to 65 years were the main focus. The screening was mostly done at Sub-Health Centres and Primary Health Centres, using a simple test called Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA). Health workers trained in this method did the tests.
If the test showed any problem (VIA-positive), women were sent to bigger hospitals for further check-ups.
ASHAs Played a Big Role
At the village level, ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) helped a lot:
- They used a form called CBAC to identify women who needed screening.
- They spread awareness about the importance of early testing.
- They encouraged women to go for regular check-ups at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
Awareness and Health Campaigns
To spread the message, the government also ran health awareness campaigns, especially on National Cancer Awareness Day and World Cancer Day. They used:
- Posters and newspapers
- TV and radio
- Social media like Facebook and WhatsApp
States were also given special funds to carry out these activities under their health plans.
From 20th February to 31st March 2025, the government ran a special cervical cancer screening campaign for people aged 30 and above. This boosted the number of screenings and helped reach the milestone of 10.18 crore women tested.
As of 20th July 2025, out of 25.42 crore eligible women in India (aged 30+), 10.18 crore have already been screened.
This shows the government’s strong focus on early detection, better awareness, and preventive healthcare through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
The update was shared in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, in a written reply.
Source: PIB
