CEO’s Note

Dear Friends,

Thank you for being part of CAPED’s journey and for standing with us in our efforts to make cancer prevention, early detection and care more accessible to all.

This edition reflects the collective effort to shape our work. From bringing together national and international experts at the National Dialogue on Cervical Cancer Elimination to presenting our research at global platforms such as the World Cancer Congress, we are contributing to conversations that can help translate evidence into action.

But progress is not measured by conversations and recognition alone. It is equally reflected in the work happening on the ground, strengthening cancer screening and referral systems in Uttarakhand and Jharkhand, advancing breast cancer screening in Mysuru, expanding HPV vaccination awareness among adolescent girls, and taking community-based screening to more people through our partnerships.

I invite you to read this edition not just to learn about what we have achieved, but to understand the people, partnerships and persistent efforts behind the progress. Each story offers a glimpse into how community engagement and collective action can bring us closer to a future where no woman dies from a preventable cancer.

Thank you for being part of this journey. We look forward to continuing to learn, collaborate and create meaningful change together.

Warm regards,

Mridu Gupta
Co-founder & CEO, CAPED

SPECIAL MOMENTS

The Spotlight Award for Emerging Excellence in Cancer Care

We are happy to share that CAPED India received the 1st Prize in the Spotlight Award for Emerging Excellence in Cancer Care at the 75th Annual Seminar of the Indian Cancer Society, Delhi Branch. This recognition celebrates our collective efforts towards cancer prevention, early detection and improving access to care. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Indian Cancer Society and all our partners who continue to make this work possible.

Radhika Bharatram Shares CAPED’s Story with Melinda French Gates

A proud and meaningful moment for all of us at CAPED India! Our very own Radhika Bharatram recently met Melinda French Gates, sharing the work we are doing at CAPED and the difference that sustained support and strong partnerships can make. It is heartening to see our work being recognised and our mission reaching influential voices who believe in creating lasting change.

RECENT MILESTONES: What We’ve Achieved Together

National Dialogue Series on Cervical Cancer Elimination

Bringing together leading voices from government, public health, oncology, research, technology and civil society, the two-day National Dialogue on Building Consensus for HPV DNA Screening and Cervical Cancer Elimination in India created a platform for meaningful exchange on accelerating the country’s cervical cancer elimination efforts.

Organised by CAPED India in collaboration with NCI-AIIMS, ICMR-NICPR and other partners, with the Cervical Cancer Elimination Consortium–India (CCEC-I) as a supporting partner, the dialogue brought together national and international experts to explore how scientific evidence, policy commitments and on-ground experience can translate into accessible, scalable solutions.
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CCAE Virtual Dialogue Patient Navigation Dialogue August 2026

Women often face several barriers in completing their cancer care journey, including fear and stigma, family dependence in healthcare decisions, loss of daily wages and gaps in patient tracking. At the recent CCAE Virtual Dialogue, Mridu Gupta, CEO of CAPED India, shared how CAPED’s patient navigation programme supports women at every step—from pre-screening counselling to confirmatory diagnosis and treatment—helping them overcome these challenges and ensuring they are not left behind along the way.

Beat Cervical Cancer Community Action Programme

As a founding member of Beat Cervical Cancer (BCC), a network of Indian NGOs united by the goal of eliminating cervical cancer, CAPED continues to support efforts to strengthen community-led HPV vaccination awareness across India.

CAPED CEO Ms. Mridu Gupta joined Sutapa Biswas, Radhika Srivastav, and Dr. Vandana Dhamankar for an impactful session under the BCC Community Action Programme, which brought together representatives from 20+ selected organisations. The programme aimed to equip NGOs with the knowledge and tools to take accurate, trusted, and locally relevant HPV vaccination messages into communities across India. The training focused on translating learning into practical communication initiatives tailored to the communities they served.

During the session, Mridu Gupta highlighted the importance of engaging community leaders and trusted local voices to build confidence, address misconceptions, and encourage informed decisions about HPV vaccination.

By strengthening grassroots organisations, BCC aimed to expand the reach of reliable HPV vaccination information and support community-led action towards cervical cancer elimination.

SAVE Strategy Pillar: CAPED Empowering Communities

At the CCEC-I Partners Meeting, CAPED presented its work under the Empowering Communities pillar of the SAVE strategy, highlighting how community engagement, training, and knowledge-sharing can strengthen cervical cancer prevention and screening.

Our Senior Program Manager Ms.Tolsy Sharma presented evidence from Rajsamand, Rajasthan, demonstrating how targeted interventions in one of the state’s most remote districts helped strengthen community participation and establish Rajsamand as a leading district in cervical cancer screening.

The presentation highlighted the importance of empowering Panchayats, ASHA workers, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) through training and knowledge-building. As active members of their communities, these stakeholders can help address misconceptions, improve awareness, encourage screening uptake, and connect women with available health services.

The central learning was clear: when communities have the knowledge, skills, and support to take ownership, the impact of an intervention can extend well beyond the project itself.

Global Academic Conferences Feature CAPED’s Research

CAPED at WCC (World Cancer Congress) 2026

The World Cancer Congress organised by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) in Hong Kong provided an opportunity to connect with global cancer-control practitioners, researchers, clinicians and partners, while exchanging perspectives on strengthening prevention, screening, diagnosis and care. CAPED was represented at the WCC  2026 by Ms. Mridu Gupta who presented two research studies on cervical cancer prevention and HPV vaccination.
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CAPED at 14th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research (ASGCR) 2026

On 15 September, CAPED India presented its poster, “Decentralising HPV DNA Screening in Underserved Settings: A Hub & Spoke Model from Jharkhand, India,” virtually at the 14th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research (ASGCR2026), the flagship meeting of the NCI Center for Global Health. The symposium brought together researchers, clinicians, programme implementers and advocates to explore how locally grounded research can contribute to global cancer control.
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CAPED at the Development Studies Association (DSA) 2026 Conference

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.
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Impact On Ground

Strengthening the System Behind Cancer Care in Uttarakhand

Strengthening a state’s healthcare system takes more than isolated interventions. It calls for sustained collaboration, informed planning and a shared vision for translating policy into practice.

This quarter, CAPED’s engagement with the newly appointed Mission Director, NHM Uttarakhand, marked an important step in that direction. Accompanied by Dr. Hari Sagiraju and Prof. Sanjay Dhir, the CAPED team held a detailed discussion on its ongoing work across the state’s districts, emerging health-system gaps and a proposed roadmap for strengthening cancer screening and care. The exchange provided an opportunity to align priorities and explore ways to advance these efforts within the state’s health system.
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Jharkhand story, Strengthening Cancer Care at the Ground Level

In Jharkhand, CAPED under Health System Strengthening (HSS) is working with health teams at different levels to make cancer screening and care more accessible. Gap assessments across 125 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) in five districts looked at equipment, supplies, staff availability and the capacity of Community Health Officers. Following these assessments, 68 AAMs are now fully functional and ready to deliver services.
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Mysore Story: Taking the Next Steps on Breast Cancer Screening

CAPED’s breast cancer screening programme in Mysuru, Karnataka, has moved from planning to implementation following permission from the State Health Department on 1 September.

The groundwork for the programme began with a comprehensive PHC Gap Assessment, the findings of which were shared with district and state authorities to inform programme planning. CAPED also worked closely with government stakeholders, including the District Surveillance Officer’s office and Arogya Soudha, to establish the necessary approvals and institutional support.
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HPV vaccination reaching adolescent girls

CAPED has commenced its HPV vaccination project of the year in partnership with Avad India and Avant Garde, with a focus on adolescent girls aged 15–18 years. So far, 180+ women and girls have been reached with awareness on cervical cancer and HPV vaccination, and 132 girls from underserved schools and communities have been vaccinated.

 

 

 

Taking cancer screening to more communities

Following the success of last year’s collaboration with Network18, Federal Bank, & Tata Trust, we have launched its 2.0 version under Sanjeevani initiative, building on the partnership with a more intensive approach to community-based screening for cervical, breast and oral cancers. The initiative was launched in Gurugram, Haryana, through a community health awareness event organised by CAPED as part of a CSR initiative by Federal Bank, Tata Trust and Network18. The event brought together government officials, Network18 representatives and frontline health workers, including ASHAs and Community Health Officers, to strengthen awareness of common cancers, early warning signs, screening and timely referral. The programme has begun in Gurugram, Delhi NCR, where 459 people have already been screened, and will expand to Meerut, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Mysuru, Kochi and Jharkhand, with an overall target of screening 7,500 people.
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LOOKING AHEAD: What’s Next

Join us in IPVS2026 in Greece

The 38th Annual Conference of the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS 2026) will bring global experts to Athens, Greece, from 22–25 October 2026 to share the latest research, innovations and strategies for preventing HPV-related diseases. Under the theme “Lighting the Flame for a World Free from HPV-Related Diseases,” the conference will bring together researchers, clinicians, public health professionals and programme leaders to advance knowledge and strengthen collective efforts towards HPV prevention and the elimination of HPV-related cancers.
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Watch & Listen: Breast cancer story on Youtube

Hesitation, fear, and a lack of guidance keep too many women from getting checked for cancer. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Through CAPED’s screening camps and Patient Navigation Program, women are getting the hands-on support they need, from their first check-up to life-saving treatment. Don’t wait. Prioritize your health today.

Here is a real story of resilience.

Thank you for reading

Thank you for being part of CAPED’s journey toward a future where no woman dies from preventable cancer. Every conversation, collaboration, and action brings us one step closer to creating healthier communities. We look forward to sharing more stories, milestones, and opportunities to make an impact together in our next edition.