The inaugural “Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum: Advancing the Call to Action,” will catalyse governments, donors, civil society and others to recommit to the cervical cancer elimination agenda and inspire country-level action. 

 

Taking place from March 5 to 7, 2024, in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, the Forum offers a watershed moment for the world to collectively accelerate progress on a ground breaking promise made in 2020, when nearly 200 countries signed on to the WHO’s Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer. 

 

This set out three clear targets to meet by 2030 in order to put countries on the path to elimination: 90% of girls vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15; 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by age 35 and again at 45; 90% of women with cervical disease receiving treatment, a WHO release said.

 

New evidence

New evidence and opportunities to increase uptake of vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes most cases of cervical cancer, coupled with strengthened screening, diagnosis, and treatment options, make this an opportune time to elevate cervical cancer elimination on global and country agendas. 

 

As such, the Governments of Colombia and Spain have partnered with the Pan American Health Organisation; the World Health Organisation; UNICEF; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Unitaid; the Global Financing Facility; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the United States Agency for International Development; and the World Bank to co-host this milestone forum.  

 

Cervical cancer is one of only a few cancers that can be prevented by a vaccine. Vaccination against HPV — the leading cause of cervical cancer — is a proven path to elimination. Yet due to supply constraints, delivery challenges and the pandemic, just one in five adolescent girls has been vaccinated. While vaccination coverage is improving thanks to concerted efforts from countries and partners, uptake is too low, leaving thousands of adolescent girls and women vulnerable to developing cervical cancer. 

 

One-dose HPV vaccine

The WHO’s recommendation of a one-dose HPV vaccine opens new opportunities to reach more girls worldwide and will significantly reduce costs and logistical barriers.

 

HPV screening and treatment is also critical to saving lives. Yet despite there being cost-effective and evidence-based tools for screening and treatment, fewer than 5% of women in LMICs are ever screened for cervical cancer. Major progress can be made by integrating cervical cancer services into existing primary health care delivery.

 

Annual deaths from cervical cancer will likely reach 410,000 by 2030 if people do not change course. This forum is a pivotal moment and a historic step in securing commitments to eliminate, for the first time ever, a full category of cancer globally.--TradeArabia News Service