New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry informed on Wednesday that it has not considered Bollywood actress Poonam Pandey to be the brand ambassador of the Centre's national awareness campaign on cervical cancer. The statement comes after rumours that Pandey might be made the face of the campaign, and the actress and her team are in talks with the ministry, PTI reported.
Pandey and cervical cancer rose to the spotlight recently after her social media account posted that she died of cervical cancer, but later revealed it was a fake post and said to intended to make critical awareness on the disease.
After the post was acknowledged as fake, Pandey appeared in a video post on her official Instagram page and said, "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."
"Unlike some other cancers, cervical cancer is entirely preventable. The key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. We have the means to ensure no one loses their life to this disease.
She said, "Unlike some other cancers, cervical cancer is entirely preventable. The key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. We have the means to ensure no one loses their life to this disease."
"Let's empower one another with critical awareness and ensure every woman is informed about the steps to take. Together, let's strive to put an end to the devastating impact of the disease and bring #DeathToCervicalCancer," she wrote.
Her stunt on social media received severe flak, though some justified her.
PTI reports that when India homes about 16 per cent of the world's women, around a quarter of the world's cervical cancer patients reside in the country, too. Also, one-third of cervical cancer-related deaths happen here. Annually, around 80,000 women develop cervical cancer in India and 35,000 die.