FICCI FLO Pune Hosts “Shield Her Future – Cervical Forum 2025” to Promote Cervical Cancer Awareness and Early Detection -

FICCI FLO Pune, in collaboration with AyuGen Biosciences and Roche Diagnostics, organized the “Shield Her Future – Cervical Forum 2025”, a dedicated initiative aimed at enhancing cervical cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and community education.

Expert-Led Awareness:
Dr. Gauravi Mishra, Deputy Director at Tata Memorial Centre’s Centre for Cancer Epidemiology, delivered the keynote address. She emphasized that despite the growing cause of cervical cancer being well-understood and treatable, India still accounts for one-fifth of the global burden, with over 1.3 lakh new cases diagnosed annually, many at advanced stages.
Maharashtra Lokmanch
Myth-Busting and Women’s Empowerment:
The session featured a powerful panel discussion moderated by Dr. Sandeep Sewlikar (Head of Medical Affairs, Roche Diagnostics). Panelists included renowned oncologists and gynecologists—Dr. Harshad Parasnis, Dr. Milind Dugad, and Dr. Aarti Nimkar—who stressed that cervical cancer is both preventable and treatable when caught early. They urged women to stop viewing it as a death sentence.
Maharashtra Lokmanch
Advocating Early Screening:
Attendees learned about crucial screening tools like the Pap smear and HPV DNA tests, which can detect precancerous changes early—especially vital for women over age 30, even if vaccinated or asymptomatic. Dr. Mishra specifically highlighted the importance of early detection and treatment of precancerous stages.
Maharashtra Lokmanch

Raising Awareness & Reducing Stigma: Events like this address the pervasive myth that cervical cancer is incurable, encouraging proactive screening and timely medical intervention.
Strengthening Preventive Health Practices: Informing women about HPV and early detection empowers them to take charge of their health and advocate for regular check-ups.
Leveraging Collaboration for Impact: The involvement of organizations like FLO, AyuGen, and Roche underscores the role of public-private partnerships in scaling preventive care education.

Source: Times of India – “FICCI FLO Pune hosts ‘Shield Her Future 2025’; focuses on cervical cancer awareness, early prevention” (August 2, 2025)