West Bengal government seeks support of DMSC for cervical cancer vaccination for sex workers in Sonagachi
West Bengal Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee has requested the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) to assist in organizing HPV vaccination drives for sex workers in Kolkata's Sonagachi. The initiative aims to address high cervical cancer risks while also introducing free condom vending machines to the area.
Why it matters
This collaboration represents a significant public health effort to integrate marginalized communities into state-led preventative healthcare programs, moving beyond traditional rescue-based models toward rights-based health access.
West Bengal Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee, on Sunday (July 12, 2026), sought support from the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) for providing cervical cancer vaccination to the sex workers in Kolkata's Sonagachi.
"DMSC has long been working to establish the rights of sex workers. They have spread awareness and also saved these women from various sexually transmitted diseases. Sex workers are most vulnerable to cervical cancer. We need to prevent it. The Health and Family Welfare Department is ready to provide this vaccine to the sex workers. We need some support from DMSC," said Mr. Mukherjee while addressing an event on the occasion of DMSC's 31st birth anniversary.
Mr. Mukherjee asked the DMSC activists to help the government to get details of the sex workers residing in Sonagachi so that the HPV vaccines can be made available to them in an organised way.
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