South Asian Regional Symposium 2022

December 2022 – New Delhi, India

Objectives of the Symposium:

The regional meeting supported discussions among the key stakeholders in the region on introduction, sustainability, and restoration of HPV prevention and control programs. One of the main objectives of the symposium is to support the establishment of a strong HPV community of practice in the South Asia region by engaging countries at different levels of HPV prevention and control program introduction to:

  • Provide an overview of epidemiological situation of cervical cancer disease burden in the region
  • Provide an overview of health information systems in the countries
  • Discuss cervical cancer screening programs, barriers and steps needed to strengthen cervical cancer control
  • Discuss HPV prevention and control measure in the region
  • Discuss progress and challenges in the region on HPV prevention and control
  • Discuss sustainable platforms for introduction, lessons learnt from different states within the countries, monitoring systems, barriers to overcome, and the way forward.
  • To support ongoing engagement between researchers, policymakers, program managers in the region

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

DAY 1: Tuesday, 13 December 2022

Inauguration & Welcome Note

  • Minister of Health or Health Secretary

SESSION 1: INAUGURAL SESSION

  • Welcome
    Prof Narendra Kumar Arora, INCLEN, Delhi
  • SPC CHIC and HPV Prevention and Control Board
    Prof. Alex Vorsters (University of Antwerp)
  • Opening remarks
    Prof. Neerja Bhatla , AIIMS, New Delhi
    Dr Prashant Mathur, NCDIR-ICMR, Bengaluru
  • SPC Co-chairs: Prof. Margaret Stanley (University of Cambridge, UK) and Dr. Nelly Mugo (Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya) 

SESSION 2: HPV RELATED CANCER BURDEN IN THE REGION

Chairs: Dr. Prabhdeep Kaur (India), Dr. Dilip Das (India) & Dr. Kim Mulholland (Australia)

  • Cervical cancer prevention and control; global overview on disease burden, WHO elimination goals and tools to achieve these goals
    Dr. Cherian Varghese (SEARO WHO)
  • Overview of HPV related disease burden, mortality, social and economic impact
    Country Presentations:
    Bangladesh – Dr. Ferdousi Begum, GoB
    India – Mr. Vishal Chauhan, MoHFW, GoI
    Nepal – Dr. Murari Man Shrestha, GoN
    Sri Lanka – Dr. Suraj Perera
    Maldives – Dr. Aminath Nusra, GoMal
    Pakistan – Dr. Fauzia Assad (Jhpiego, Pakistan)
  • Q&A

SESSION 3: CANCER REGISTRIES; GAPS AND THE WAYS TO IMPROVE CERVICAL CANCER DATA COLLECTION

Chairs: Dr Eric Zomawia (MD-Mizoram, India), Dr Ravi Kannan (India) & Ramesh K. Adhikari (Nepal)

  • Cancer registries – data collection, challenges and steps to strengthen registries and improve cervical cancer data collection
    Country presentations:

    India – Dr. Prashant Mathur, ICMR-NCDIR, GoI
    Nepal – Dr. Pradip Gyanwali, GoN
    Bangladesh – Dr. Rifat Ara, NICRH, GoB
    Sri Lanka – Dr Suraj Perera, GoSL
    Pakistan – Prof. Dr. Sarbuland Khan ICCBS University of Karachi, Pakistan (Online)
  • Q&A

SESSION 4: HEALTH SYSTEMS INFORMATION: PEER EXCHANGE ON DATA REPORTING AND COLLECTION MECHANISMS FOR HPV VACCINATION PROGRAMS 

Chairs: Dr Raj Prabha Moktan (MD-Sikkim India), Dr. Joseph Biey (WHO) & Dr. Suzanne Garland (University of Melbourne, Australia)

  • Health information system: overview and challenges
    Data reporting and collection mechanism for HPV vaccination program and the research gaps to improve health information system
    Country presentations- Examples/Experiences

    Maldives – Dr. Jumailath Beygum, GoM
    Sri Lanka – Dr. Samitha Ginige, GoSL
    India (Sikkim state)– Dr. Tsering Doma, GoSikkim, India
  • Q&A

SESSION 4A (PANEL DISCUSSION): PEER EXCHANGE LEARNING ON IMPLEMENTATION AND RESEARCH GAPS IN STRENGTHENING HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Chairs: Shri AbhinavTrikha (MD-Punjab, India), Dr. Jyoti Logani (India) & Dr. Cherian Varghese (SEARO WHO)

  • What are the implementation and research gaps in strengthening health information systems in South Asia?
    Panelists
    Bangladesh – Dr Choudhury Ali Kawsar, GoB
    India – Dr Nivedita Gupta
    Maldives – Dr Mariyam Jenyfa
    Sri Lanka – Dr Samitha P. Ginige, GoSL
    Myanmar – Dr Soe Lwin Nyein, GoMN
    Pakistan – Prof. Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan (Health Services Academy, Pakistan)

SESSION 5: PEER EXCHANGE LEARNING AND LEVERAGING OPPORTUNITIES FROM OTHER VACCINATION PROGRAMS

Chairs: Shri Sudhir Kumar Sharma (MD-Rajasthan), Dr F.U. Ahmed (NITAG- India) & Dr Padmaka de Silva (Sri Lanka)

  • Lessons learned on vaccination data collection and reporting mechanism from other vaccination programs in the region
    Country experiences:
  • Intensified Mission Indradhanush/ Measles Rubella Vaccine campaign in India
    Dr. Veena Dhawan, GoI
  • Measles Rubella vaccination experience in Bangladesh
    Dr. Rajib Sarkar
  • Village Full Immunization Certification program in Nepal
    Mr. Sagar Dahal (Department of Health Services, GoN)
  • Ministry of Education involvement in MR vaccination program
    Dr. E. Naveen Nicolas
  • Q&A

DAY 2: INTRODUCTION

Welcome Note for Day 2

  • Dr. Manoja Kumar Das (India)

SESSION 6: HPV VACCINATION PROGRAMS: PEER EXCHANGE ON LESSONS LEARNED FROM PLANNING AND  INTRODUCTION

Chairs: Shri Subashis Das (MD-Tripura, India), Paul Bloem (WHO) & Sunil Bahl (SEARO, WHO)

  • HPV Vaccination Introduction – Global Overview on HPV vaccination introduction status
    Dr Emmanuel Njambe, WHO SEARO
  • HPV vaccine roll-out in Sri Lanka; lessons learned from planning process
    Dr. Samitha Ginige, GoSL
  • HPV Vaccine roll-out experience in Sikkim: lessons learned for sustainable coverage
    Dr. Tsering Doma, GoSikkim, India
  • Planning Roadmap towards HPV Vaccination Introduction
    Dr. Fauzia Assad & Dr. Arshad Chandio (Jhpiego, Pakistan)
  • Q&A

SESSION 6A:  PEER EXCHANGE ON STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DELIVERY PLATFORMS FOR HPV VACCINATION PROGRAMS

Chairs: Shri Rajesh Bhushan (Secretary, MoHFW-India), Dr Mohammad Tofazzal Hossain (DGHS, MoH-Bangladesh) & Anita Karwal (Fmr. Secretary Education, GOI)

  • Adolescent health integration with HPV vaccination program
    Experience from Tanzania
    Pricillah Kinyunyi, MOH Tanzania
  • Adolescent health integration: leveraging opportunities
    Example from Tamil Nadu State, India

    Dr. Vinay, Go Tamil Nadu, India
  • Overview on HPV vaccination delivery approaches and platforms
    Ms. Sarah Wanyoike (Jhpiego, USA) & Dr. Prem Singh (Jhpiego, India)
  • Lessons learned on delivery approaches from CHIC Africa symposium
    Prof. Dr. Alex Vorsters, Mrs. Dur-e-Nayab Waheed
  • Country experience from Maldives on delivery approaches
    Dr. Jumailath Beygum, GoM
  • Q&A

SESSION 7: HPV VACCINATION PROGRAMS: OVERVIEW OF GAVI’S SUPPORT FOR HPV VACCINATION PROGRAMS IN LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES (LMICS)

Chairs: Dr. Mathuram Santosham (JHU, USA), Dr. Anissa Sidibe (Gavi) & Dr. Myo Myo Mon (MoH-Myanmar)

  • Overview of Gavi’s support for HPV vaccination programs in low and middle income countries (LMICs)
    Mr. Homero Hernandez, Gavi
  • Q&A

SESSION 8: HPV VACCINATION PROGRAMS: WHO POSITION PAPER ON NEW RECOMMENDATION AND GLOBAL OVERVIEW ON HPV VACCINE EFFICACY AND SAFETY

Chairs: Smt. Aparna U (MD, UP) & Dr. Asela Gunawardena (DGHS,GO Sri Lanka)

  • WHO position paper on new recommendation and Global overview on HPV vaccine efficacy and safety
    Mr. Paul Bloem (WHO)
  • Q&A

SESSION 9: ONE DOSE; THE CURRENT SCENARIO AND THE WAY FORWARD

Chairs: Ms. Ayushi Sudan (MD-Jammu & Kashmir, India), Dr. Cathy Ndiaye (PATH) & Dr. Rakesh Aggarwal

  • Update on one dose trial data findings
    Single-dose HPV Vaccination Efficacy among adolescent girls and young women in Kenya – KEN SHE trial

    Dr. Nelly Mugo
  • Costa Rica HPV Vaccine Trials
    Dr. Carolina Porras
  • DoRIS Trial
    Dr Deborah Watson Jones
  • Single dose HPV vaccine trials in India
    Dr Neerja Bhatla
  • Q&A

SESSION 10: PEER TO PEER LEARNING – WHAT IS NEEDED FOR HPV VACCINATION PROGRAM INTRODUCTION IN THE REGION?

SESSION 10A: PEER EXCHANGE LEARNING FROM HPV VACCINATION PROGRAM COMMUNICATION PLAN

Chairs: Ms. Roli Singh (AS, MD-NHM, India), Sonia Sarkar (UNICEF, India)& Dr. Sharon Hanley (Hokkaido University, Japan)

  • The importance of effective communication and the need for a crisis communication plan
    Country experience:

    Yvonne Morrisey (HSE NIO) – Ireland
    Dr Veena Dhawan – GoI
  • Communication tools for culturally sensitive context
    Tamara Abu Sham, UNICEF
  • Q&A

SESSION 10B: GROUP WORK: DISCUSSION ON NEEDS FOR VARIOUS PARAMETERS OF HPV VACCINATION PROGRAMS

Group work facilitators:
University of Antwerp: Dr. Alex Vorsters & Ms. Dur-e-Nayab Waheed (Online)
Jhpiego: Ms. Sarah Wanyoike & Ms. Elaine Charurat (Jhpiego, USA), Dr Apoorva Sharan & Dr. Prem Singh (Jhpiego, India)
Supporting chairs: Dr. Surinder Jaswal, Dr. Ranganai Matema (Health Specialist, UNICEF, India) & Dr. Ranbeer Singh (Asst. Dir. Cancer Program, CHAI, India), Quail Rogers-Bloch (JSI, USA)

  • What is needed for rolling out HPV vaccination programs?
    The participants will be given a work sheet to mention key points for several parameters of HPV vaccination programs in their respective state/region/country
    The following topics will be covered:
    – Macro- and micro-planning
    – Cold chain and vaccine management
    – Delivery approaches
    – Communication and social mobilization
    – Monitoring and evaluation
  • Rapid round of feedback from the Groups

DAY 3: INTRODUCTION

Welcome Note for Day 3

  • Dr. Parvaiz Koul (NITAG, India)

SESSION 11: CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING LANDSCAPE

SESSION 11A: CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING LANDSCAPE – GLOBAL OVERVIEW

Chairs: Dr. Marc Steben (Quebec’s National Public Health Institute, Canada) & Dr. Samorjit Ningombam (MD-Manipur, India)

  • Global overview on available assays for screening and treatment options for cervical cancer
    Dr. Maribel Almonte ( IARC) – Online
  • Lessons learned from cervical cancer screening program
    ROSE program
    Yogeeta Gunasagran(University Malaya Medical Centre Malaysia)
  • Experience from Turkey
    Dr. Murat Gultekin (Hacettepe University, Turkey)
  • Q&A

SESSION 11B: CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING LANDSCAPE IN SOUTH-ASIA

Chairs: Dr. Sharmila Pimple (India), Dr. Shabana Saleem (DGH, MoH-Pakistan) & Dr. Soe Lwin Nyein, Myanmar

  • Cervical cancer screening in India
    India – Dr Sudarsan Mandal, DDG (NCD), GoI

Country examples

  • Bangladesh
    Dr Jannatul Ferdous, Dr. Azizul Alim, GoB
  • Nepal
    Ms. Kabita Aryal, GoNP
  • Pakistan
    Prof. Dr. Sadia Ahsan Pal
  • Learning from cervical cancer screening program in Bhutan
    Ms. Jamyang Choden (Ministry of Health, Bhutan) – Online
  • Learning from Cervical Cancer Screening from Madhya Pradesh
    Mr. Ranveer B. Singh
  • Cervical cancer screening programs – LMICs experience
    Dr Somesh Kumar, JHPIEGO
  • Q&A

SESSION 11C (PANEL DISCUSSION): CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AND TREATMENT CHALLENGES IN SOUTH ASIA

Chairs: Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nayak (India) & Dr. Eduardo Franco (McGill University, Canada)

Overview of available cervical cancer screening and treatment options in the region

  • How can the countries in region transition from VIA to HPV testing?
  • How do we manage the availability of diagnostic and treatment tools?
  • Availability and training of health workforce to conduct screening?
  • How will the region deal with loss to follow-up for cervical cancer screening and false HPV positives due to HPV testing?
  • How cervical cancer screening can be logistically implemented in low resource settings? 

Panelists:
Global Exerts
Dr Silvia de Sanjose (Online)
Dr Murat Gultekin (Hacettepe University, Turkey)
Dr. Kim Mulholland
Dr. Susanne Kruger Kjaer (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) – Online
Dr. Marc Arbyn (Sciensano, Belgium) – Online
Dr. Nelly Mugo (KEMRI, Kenya)
Country experts
India – Dr Priya Abraham,
Bangladesh – Dr Choudhury Ali Kawsar
Maldives – Dr Aminath Nusra
Sri Lanka – Dr Padmaka de Silva
Pakistan – Prof. Dr. Sadia Ahsan Pal
Bhutan – Dr. Pempa (Ministry of Health, Bhutan)