Quad summit: PM Modi announces $7.5 million grant to fight cervical cancer

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his three-day US visit, on Saturday announced 7.5 million US dollars worth of support for sampling and detection kits and vaccines to fight cervical cancer as part of India's vision of "One Earth One Health".

PM Modi, during Quad summit's Cancer Moonshot event in Delaware, mentioned New Delhi's initiative to fight cervical cancer and said that India was ready to share its expertise.

Quad launched a "signature initiative" named "Cancer Moonshot", through which the bloc aims to implement innovative strategies to prevent, detect, treat, and alleviate the impact of cancer on patients and their families.

"I want to thank President Biden for organising this event. This reflects our shared determination to provide affordable, accessible and quality health care. During the Covid pandemic, we had taken the Quad Vaccine initiative for the Indo-Pacific and I am glad that in the Quad, we have decided to jointly tackle challenges like cervical cancer. In cancer care, collaboration is essential for cure," PM Modi said.

"An integrated approach of prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment is necessary to reduce the burden of cancer. In India, a very cost-effective cervical cancer screening program is being carried out," he added.


PM Modi said India developed its vaccine for the disease and new treatment protocols are being rolled out with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).

"Along with this, India is running the world's largest health insurance scheme and special centres have also been set up to make medicines available to everyone at affordable cost. India has also developed its own vaccine for cervical cancer and new treatment protocols are also being introduced with the help of Artificial Intelligence," the Prime Minister said.

"India is ready to share its experience and expertise. Today, many experts from India working in cancer care have joined us in this event. India's vision is One Earth One Health. I announce the support of sampling kits, detection kits and vaccines worth USD 7.5 million," he added.

PM Modi also announced that India will cooperate in radiotherapy treatment and capacity building and will contribute 40 million vaccine doses for Indo-Pacific countries under Gavi and Quad initiatives.