11 Reproductive Health Facts from India and Beyond That Need More Awareness

10. Lesson for the US: prioritize preventive screening and vaccination for durable gains

Cervical cancer prevention in India shows how screening and vaccines complement each other, and the lesson is global: prevention pays off. Countries that scale screening and HPV vaccination together see durable declines in cervical cancer. For the US and other high-income settings, maintaining high vaccination coverage and ensuring screening access for marginalized groups prevents avoidable disease. Outreach must reach those who face barriers, whether due to geography, language, or mistrust. Community-based vaccination drives, school-based programs, and making screening routine within maternal and primary care visits reduce missed opportunities. Investing in clear communication about benefits and safety, plus using flexible delivery models like mobile clinics, increases uptake. Preventive programs require sustained funding and coordination between public health, primary care, and community partners to convert scientific tools into population-level health gains.