Vaccination against HPV – the leading cause of cervical cancer – can prevent the vast majority of cases. There is also new evidence for a one-dose vaccine schedule and increased vaccine supply.

Due to supply constraints, delivery challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, just one in five adolescent girls has been vaccinated. Only 42% of low-income countries have introduced the HPV vaccine into their immunization schedules, compared with 97% of high-income countries.

We have cost-effective and evidence-based tools for screening to catch precancer early, before it becomes deadly.

Fewer than 5% of women in low- and middle-income countries are ever screened for cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer can often be cured by surgery alone, if diagnosed and treated in its early stages.

Of the cancer patients who live in the world’s poorest countries, less than 5% have access to safe, effective and timely cancer surgery.

There are new recommendations to make HPV vaccination, as well as cervical cancer screening and treatment more affordable and available.

Costs, logistical issues, and lack of political will have created obstacles to implementing programmes for cervical cancer prevention and treatment. Lack of access to prevention and treatment are causing cases of cervical cancer and resulting deaths to rise at an alarming rate.