At the Development Studies Association (DSA) 2026 Conference, a global forum for research and dialogue on development and health systems, CAPED presented insights from its work in India on strengthening Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) through a cervical cancer prevention lens. held at University College Dublin under the theme “Reimagining Development: Power, Agency, and Futures in an Uncertain World,” the conference created space for conversations around emerging challenges and more equitable approaches to development.
Bringing our experience from India to this wider conversation, Our work highlighted the importance of integrating cervical cancer prevention across the continuum of women’s health, from HPV vaccination during adolescence to screening through the recommended age of 65. This approach extends prevention beyond the reproductive years and creates opportunities for earlier identification of risk, timely screening, and appropriate referral.
Embedding cervical cancer prevention within primary healthcare systems can strengthen community-level outreach, screening uptake, referral mechanisms, patient navigation, and access to HPV vaccination through public health partnerships. Together, these interventions can contribute to more equitable, responsive, and sustainable health systems.
The research was presented by Mridu Gupta, Dr. Swati Saxena, Dr. Manisha Ohlan, and Tolsy Sharma, bringing CAPED’s field experience and evidence from India into the wider global development discourse.
Read more: Read the full article