Poonam Pandey, an actor, is not being considered as the brand ambassador for the government’s national cervical cancer awareness campaign, health ministry sources informed PTI on Wednesday. Earlier, it was claimed that Pandey would be the campaign’s face, and she and her team were in talks with ministry officials. 

On February 2, Poonam Pandey’s team performed a deadly stunt to raise “critical awareness” about cervical cancer. Her crew released a comprehensive statement stating that the actor died of cervical cancer. However, a day later, the 32-year-old actor released a video claiming she was alive.  

In a video, Pandey stated, “I feel compelled to share something significant with you all ‘“ I am here, alive.” “Cervical cancer didn’t claim me, but tragically, it has claimed the lives of thousands of women who stemmed from a lack of knowledge on how to tackle this disease,” she went on to say. 

“Unlike some other cancers, cervical cancer is completely preventable.” The key rests in HPV vaccination and early detection tests. We have the means to assure that no one dies from this sickness. Let us empower one another by raising vital awareness and ensuring that every woman is aware of the necessary procedures. Together, let us work to stop the disease’s devastating impact and deliver #DeathToCervicalCancer.” 

Pandey’s stunt came barely one day after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her interim budget speech that the government will push immunization of girls aged 9 to 14 to avoid cervical cancer. 

The Union Health Ministry stated last month that it is actively monitoring the incidence of cervical cancer in the country and is in regular contact with states and various health authorities about it. 

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization suggested the inclusion of HPV vaccination in universal immunisation in June 2022, with “a one-time catch-up for 9-14-year-old adolescent girls followed by routine introduction at nine years,” the Rajya Sabha was told in March. 

India is home to around 16% of the world’s women, but it accounts for almost a quarter of all cervical cancer incidence and nearly a third of global cervical cancer mortality.