Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer. Despite being largely preventable, cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women worldwide. In Cambodia, cervical cancer is the number one cause of cancer among women ages 15 to 44. Over 5 million Cambodian women over age 15 are at risk for cancer of the cervix, which not only affects the health and lives of women, but also their families and the community.
HPV infections are transmitted through sexual contact and although most HPV infections are without symptoms, persistent genital HPV infection is responsible for cervical cancer. Virtually, all cervical cancer cases (99%) are linked to genital infection with HPV, the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract. HPV can also cause other types of anogenital cancer, head and neck cancers, and genital warts in both men and women.
WHO recommends vaccination for girls 9 to 13-years-old as the most cost-effective public health measure against cervical cancer.
In Cambodia, the National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (2013-2020) identifies cervical cancer as the most urgent priority for cancer control and recommends the development of a combination of two approaches for prevention and treatment. This includes cervical screening for early identification and treatment of abnormalities, and vaccination against HPV.
In January 2017, the Ministry of Health introduced a HPV vaccine demonstration programme in six operational districts in two provinces and will scale up to national introduction in early 2019. Particular for this demonstration programme, Cervarix vaccine was chosen and two doses of HPV vaccine will be administered at least six months apart to only 9 year-old girls.
This HPV vaccine demonstration programme presents exciting opportunities for reducing the incidence of cervical cancer in Cambodia.