Suraksha Steps In Against Cervical Cancer

Tapash Roy,Kolkata, January 21, 2026: Around 1,100 women working in tea gardens across Darjeeling district were screened for cervical cancer at their workplaces under PRECERCA, an international award-winning initiative of KOLGOTRG, using GeneXpert HPV DNA testing with support from Suraksha Clinic and Diagnostics and the Government of West Bengal. The screening found nearly 10 per cent women positive for high-risk HPV, all of whom received free, same-day treatment at their worksites, aiming to prevent cervical cancer that usually develops over 10–15 years. Designed for vulnerable tea garden workers who face limited healthcare access, demanding work schedules and socio-economic barriers, the programme follows a same-day “screen and treat” model to improve participation and follow-up. The initiative, planned as a long-term effort, also focuses on training local healthcare workers to build a sustainable, community-based cervical cancer prevention system, highlighting that early screening can save lives from a largely preventable disease.