KOLKATA: The “Wheels of Wellness” project, in partnership with Wheeler Diary, was launched on Aug 22, 2026, followed by a 5,200 km motorcycle rally to raise awareness about cervical cancer and HPV vaccination from Kolkata to Ladakh and back that was flagged off on Sept 3.The 22-day expedition flagged off by the Rotary Club of Humanity Kolkat, brings together health advocates and motorcycle enthusiasts to take a preventive health message across communities along the route. The campaign seeks to challenge the stigma around HPV, encourage conversations on cervical cancer prevention, and promote timely vaccination among eligible adolescent girls.Twenty riders are participating in the journey, travelling through Kolkata, Jammu, Kargil, Khardung La, Umling La, Manali and back to Kolkata. The expedition features a mix of vehicles, including Royal Enfield Classic 350 motorcycles, TVS Apache RTR bikes and a Honda Activa scooter.Cervical cancer remains a major but largely preventable public-health concern. Globally, about 6,60,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and nearly 3,50,000 died from the disease in 2022, making it the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide.Persistent infection with high-risk Human Papillomavirus is responsible for almost all cases of cervical cancer. HPV vaccination offers an important opportunity to prevent the disease before infection occurs, especially when administered during early adolescence, before exposure to the virus.“The primary objective is to protect the next generation of girls from HPV infection and substantially reduce cervical cancer in the future. A successful vaccination programme aims to increase awareness that cervical cancer is preventable,” said Rotary Club of Humanity Kolkata president Sudip Kumar Sarkar.The campaign is promoting high HPV vaccination coverage among eligible adolescent girls to reduce future HPV infections, precancerous cervical lesions and cervical cancer. It also aims to improve acceptance of HPV vaccination among families and communities.Rotarian Shyamasree Sen said the message of vaccination must “complement, rather than replace, regular cervical cancer screening in adult women.”The awareness drive also aligns with the World Health Organization’s cervical cancer elimination strategy, which has set the 90-70-90 targets for 2030: 90% of girls fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15, 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by ages 35 and 45, and 90% of women identified with cervical disease receiving appropriate treatment.
