Why Sudha Murty’s Stand For Affordable Cervical Cancer Vaccine Is Important For Women

Born on 19th August 1950, in a Brahmin family in Karnataka,  Sudha Murty is the wife of Infosys co-founder Narayan Murthy. An engineering teacher by profession, Sudha rose to fame as one of India’s most acclaimed authors and foresightful philanthropists, who was inspired by a resolute vision of a better world. On International Women’s Day, this year, she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu. 

Sudha Murty raises awareness about cervical cancer 

In her speech, which was lauded by PM Modi himself, she highlighted the importance of a woman in the family by quoting her father “When a mother dies, it is counted as one death in the hospital, but for the family, a mother is lost forever.”

“I want to tell you that the most important thing for a woman in general is her health. That is because she always neglects her health and takes care of the family, and because of that, many women suffer in real life with cervical cancers. They come to the hospital only in the fourth or third stage. Being a daughter and a sister of doctors, I am aware of this” she further added. 

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Sudha Murty’s take on Cervical Cancer Vaccine 

Speaking about the vaccine she said, “I want to give a suggestion. There is a vaccination which is given to girls between the ages of 9 to 14. This is known as cervical vaccination. If the girls take it, this disease can be avoided. May I request the house that we should incorporate this vaccination for the benefit of our girls because prevention is better than cure,” 

“It worked very well. It is not expensive. Today it is Rs 1,400 for people like me who are in the field. If the government intervenes and negotiates... you can bring it to Rs 700-800. We have such a large population. It will be beneficial for our girls in the future,” she further asserted. 

How common is Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer happens to be the 4th most common cancer seen in women worldwide, as per WHO. The malignancy is primarily linked to HPV (human papillomavirus) infection and is 6 times more likely to affect women with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). The early signs of cervical cancer include:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding

• Heavy vaginal discharge

• Pelvic pain

• Pain during intercourse 

Importance of Cervical cancer vaccine 

As of now, we don’t have vaccines that target cervical cancer, however, we do have vaccination against HPV, which is one of the major risk factors. Getting vaccinated can potentially help in warding off the risks of nearly 90 percent of HPV-related cancers. It is pertinent to understand the importance of getting vaccinated for cervical cancer and raise awareness about the same. Because, as Sudha Murty said in her speech “Prevention is better than cure”.

Sudha Murty’s simple yet dynamic personality has profoundly inspired the masses. She has always been vocal about countering gender parity and has championed women empowerment by taking a strong stand for their education, health, development, and inclusion. Her speech has highlighted a very crucial topic that can touch millions of lives.