Russian President Vladimir Putin, while recently speaking at a Moscow function, announced that his country was waiting for the launch of cancer vaccines. Putin, globally condemned for the invasion of Ukraine resulting in many casualties and enormous property damages, announced that significant progress has been made by the Russian scientific fraternity to develop the important vaccines. The hardliner Russian leader expressed optimism that they have almost reached a significant phase for developing cancer vaccines and immunomodulatory drugs. He also hoped that these advancements would transition the way to deal with the health disaster, but Putin did not reveal or mention any specific information about the type of cancer vaccines.
Needless to say, many countries across the globe, including Bharat, have been working to find effective cancer medicine and also vaccines for decades. The World Health Organization (WHO) in its report confirmed the availability of at least six licensed vaccines targeting human papillomaviruses (HPV, which causes cervical cancer) and hepatitis B (that may lead to liver cancer). Incidentally, cervical cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world, and it’s ranked as the most frequent cancer among Indian women. To fight against this type of cancer, Indian scientists have launched Cervavac as a preventive measure to save many lives. The vaccine is developed indigenously after rigorous research, clinical trials, and necessary regulatory approvals. The central government also committed its support for the cervical cancer vaccination process.
Cancer is almost a curse in our society. Numerous Assamese plays, cinemas, stories, and media articles have depicted cancer as the other name of death. So if any individual is diagnosed with cancer, irrespective of its stages, the family instantly presumes a dark future for the patient. But the doctors always encourage the patients to face the disease bravely. They argue that with early detection and proper treatment, cancer can be cured if the patient adopts medication regularly with a positive mind enriched by physical activities.
The number of cancer-affected families in India continues to increase. Now the projected number of cancer cases in India is estimated to be 15.7 lakh by next year. The Northeast is also not lagging behind, as our region sees an increase in cancer cases every year, and by 2025 it may witness another 57,131 new cases. The Indian Council of Medical Research reported that our region faces a high burden of cancer compared to other parts of the country. The highest cancer incidence rate among males was recorded in Aizawl and among females in Papumpare. The tobacco-related cancer cases remain higher in the region. Any comprehensive vaccine for cancer will be a priceless gift for 60 million people living in the region, adjacent to Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
Often cancer is also termed as a huge global scam as many believe that the scientists have the capability to develop a comprehensive cancer vaccine, but they are being prevented by the beneficiaries of the scam including the pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, concerned doctors, and others. Once the vaccination process becomes feasible and effective, those beneficiaries would lose their business empire accounting for a huge sum of money. Now Putin, who has already earned the name and fame as an autocratic and arrogant leader, has declared the invention of the cancer vaccine by Russian scientists, and it may change the entire global healthcare scenario. Like many other politicians in power, Putin may not be bothered about the complications he would face after the invention and marketing of cancer vaccines.
Putin now desperately wants to improve his image from a villain to a humanitarian crusader. If at all, the Russian cancer vaccine comes out as a reality, he will be beneficiary number one in the process. Nonetheless, an inclusive cancer vaccine should emerge out of all difficulties and complexities so that human suffering from the disease can be minimized if not completely removed.
