Cervical cancer is a grave threat to women’s health and lives, and globally, one woman dies of cervical cancer every two minutes. This suffering is unacceptable, particularly as cervical cancer is largely preventable.
WHO and partners are working on the definition of a threshold under which cervical cancer will no longer be considered a public health concern, and associated short-term milestones to set the trajectory to reach elimination.
Acceleration
To achieve elimination, acceleration of implementation of cost-effective intervention for prevention and control should be prioritised in a comprehensive approach to include: vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions, early diagnosis and timely treatment of invasive cancer and palliative care.Targets
There are three key targets that put countries on the path towards achieving the elimination of cervical cancer. These are:
- Increase coverage of vaccination against HPV;
- Increase screening coverage with an HPV test and appropriate management of women whom have screened positive;
- Reduce mortality from cervical cancer.
Elimination is “within reach”
Dr Princess Nono Simelela, Assistant Director-General for Family, Women’s and Children’s Health at WHO, believes that, “Elimination of cervical cancer as a global health issue is within reach for all countries. We know what works, and we know how to prevent and control this disease. This new approach will unite us and help to focus the world’s efforts on protecting the well-being of women and girls.”Preventable and treatable
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer. It requires however, a comprehensive national strategy with HPV vaccination, screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions, and effective management of invasive cancer. Prevention, early treatment and palliative care are highly cost-effective, and can help to maintain the health and well-being of girls and women throughout their lives.
A story of inequality
Cervical cancer remains one of the most common causes of death for women. Nearly 90% of deaths from cervical cancer each year are of women living in low- and middle- income countries. Most of these women will not have had access to the key cervical cancer services which could have saved their lives, nor the palliative care to help them manage pain and safeguard their quality of life. In addition, it is important to note that women who are living with HIV are at high risk of cervical cancer as they are 4-5 times more likely to experience persistent HPV infection and subsequently cervical cancer.A number of high-income countries have shown that with successful and effective implementation of comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control, incidence and deaths from the disease can be dramatically reduced. This is a story of inequality which the accelerated approach towards elimination aims to change dramatically.
Health for all
WHO encourages countries to reach all women and girls with effective vaccination against HPV, in addition to screening, and to ensure that treatment and palliative care is provided to all those who need it.
For too long, too many of the poorest and most vulnerable women have suffered from this highly preventable form of cancer. This call to action is appealing for a global effort to accelerate national action towards elimination of cervical cancer. This
is to make cancer a story of the past and to safeguard the human rights of all women everywhere to good health and well-being, no matter where they live.