Data Driven: Generating Evidence for Smarter Screening
Research is the backbone of effective public health strategy. CAPED is currently driving two major initiatives to improve screening methodologies:
- ICMR Intramural Project :Assessing reach and effectiveness of primary HPV-DNA-based vs visual inspection methods for scalability and sustainability of cervical cancer screening in community-based settings in Delhi : An Implementation Research : Serving as Principal Investigator alongside ICMR-NICPR, we are evaluating VIA and HPV-DNA testing for 3,000 women.
- Hub & Spoke HPV DNA Screening in Jharkhand: A Cross-Sector Model for Integrating Cervical Cancer Screening into Primary Health Systems: A 12-month implementation study is ongoing in Dhanbad district through a cross-sector partnership involving the Government of Jharkhand, Cancer Awareness, Prevention and Early Detection (CAPED) Trust, Becton Dickinson (BD), ICMR–National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), and a tertiary care hospital (Asarfi Hospital). Ayushman Arogya Mandirs function as community-level spokespersons responsible for awareness generation, counselling, and HPV sample collection, including self-sampling. The tertiary hospital serves as the diagnostic hub for HPV DNA testing and reflex genotyping. Frontline health workers (ASHAs, ANMs, Medical Officers) are trained, PARTNERS and structured patient navigation supports follow-up
- PRAVAAH : A Patient Tracking Pathway Platform for the Continuum of Cancer Care (PRAVAAH: Pathway, Referral, Adherence, Visibility, Access, and Accountable Healthcare
Objective : To strengthen continuity of cancer care by transforming existing NPNCD Portal data into a longitudinal patient pathway view that enables real-time tracking, identification of care gaps, timely follow-up, and evidence-based programme management across the cancer care continuum
Description: PRAVAAH is being developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi in collaboration with Cancer Awareness, Prevention and Early Detection (CAPED India) to strengthen cancer care pathways using existing data from ) the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases (NPNCD) Portal . Rather than creating a new portal or parallel reporting system, PRAVAAH reorganises existing programme data into a longitudinal patient pathway view, enabling programme managers to monitor patient progression across the cancer care continuum.
The Cervical Cancer Mukt District: Strengthening Systems from the Ground Up
Our experience during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of working hand-in-hand with district health systems. It showed us that lasting impact comes from strengthening existing public health infrastructure rather than creating parallel systems. This learning became the foundation of CAPED’s Cervical Cancer Mukt District (CCMD) Model, enabling us to support district-wide screening, referral, and follow-up services in collaboration with district health authorities.
Screening camps are not enough; women need a localized health system that supports their entire care journey. The Cervical Cancer Mukt District Model moves away from standalone camps to integrate prevention into routine public healthcare.
Currently operating in Gurugram, Rajsamand, and Kheda. Between 2024 and 2026, this approach yielded substantial results:
- 148 Primary and Community Health Centres strengthened.
- 3,650+ healthcare workers (ASHAs, nurses, CHOs) trained.
- 755,000+ individuals reached through door-to-door HPV awareness.
- 19,000+ women screened, with 722 positive cases successfully navigated to follow-up care.