Sat May 31 15:44:51 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, summarizing the key information:

**Headline: India Launches Nationwide Initiative to Combat HPV and Cancer**

**KOCHI, May 31, 2025** – A major public health initiative, spearheaded by the Serum Institute of India (SII), was launched today with the “Conquer HPV & Cancer Conclave 2025.” The nationwide program aims to address India’s significant burden of diseases linked to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), particularly cervical cancer, which remains the second most common cancer affecting women in the country.

According to 2023 data from the ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer, India reports over 123,000 new cases of cervical cancer and more than 77,000 deaths annually. Beyond cervical cancer, HPV is also associated with a high percentage of anal and penile cancers.

Experts speaking at the launch event emphasized the importance of early awareness and prevention strategies, noting that peak HPV infection rates occur between the ages of 15 and 25. The initiative will focus on raising public awareness and promoting timely interventions to reduce the incidence of HPV-related cancers across India.

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