CAPED at the 37th IPVC 2025: India’s Innovations Take Global Stage

The 37th International Papillomavirus Conference (IPVC) held in Bangkok from October 23–26, 2025, brought together more than 100 countries and some of the world’s foremost experts in HPV prevention and cervical cancer elimination. Among them, CAPED, India’s cervical cancer advocacy organisation, made a strong and meaningful presence, showcasing community-driven innovations, survivor-led narratives, and scalable public health models.

Spotlight on India: CAPED at the Global Panel

CAPED’s CEO Mridu Gupta was invited to speak on the panel, “The World Could End Cervical Cancer, If It Tried – Spotlight on India.”  Her talk on “HPV Vaccination Advocacy: Raising Awareness through Cultural Sensitivity,” emphasised the organisation’s use of emotionally resonant, culturally rooted storytelling to break stigma and build awareness.

Presenting India’s Field Realities Through Research

CAPED also contributed new evidence and field insights through two poster presentations:

Dr. Manisha Ohlan, Senior Communications Manager, presented a case study from Delhi titled “Cervical Cancer Screening and Capacity Building of Accredited Social Health Activists.” The study highlighted CAPED’s work in empowering ASHAs to improve screening uptake across underserved communities.

Tolsy Sharma, Senior Manager – Programs, shared learnings from “Institutionalising Cervical Cancer Screening in the Public Health System: A District-Driven Model from India.” Her presentation demonstrated how strong government partnerships and grassroots implementation can lead to sustainable screening programmes. These research pieces underscored CAPED’s dual commitment to community engagement and systemic strengthening.

Two of CAPED’s award-winning films—“Call to Arms – The War Against Cervical Cancer” and “A Mother’s True Story”—were screened to a packed room. The response was immediate and powerful: attendees recorded the films, shared them widely, and requested translations into their regional languages. Together, these films have already reached over 11 million people.

One of the most memorable moments linked to India at IPVC was the recognition of Sangeeta Gupta, a cervical cancer survivor whose story CAPED shared as part of the International HPV Awareness Day (i-HAD) campaign. Her message of resilience and hope resonated globally, making it one of the most-watched cervical cancer awareness videos on IPVS platforms.

Her journey not only spotlighted survivorship but also amplified the growing awareness movement in India around screening, HPV vaccination, and early detection.

Know More : https://hpvhub.ipvsoc.org/assets/downloads/International_HPV_Awareness_Campaign_2025_Report.pdf