Global Push to End Cervical Cancer

New investments and policy pledges to expand access to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, screening, and treatment have been announced to ensure that cervical cancer, one of the most preventable in the world, is eliminated once and for all by 2030.

“At its heart, this movement is about justice. It’s about ensuring that every girl and every woman, regardless of where she lives or what she earns, has access to basic, lifesaving care,” says Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “Let us act now – so that every woman, everywhere, can live a healthy, dignified life.”

As per the Global Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, by 2030, 90% of girls need to be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age of 15; 70% of women screened with a high-performance must be tested by age 35 and again at 45; and 90% of women identified with cervical disease must receive appropriate treatment. As of 2024, 46% of low-income countries have introduced HPV vaccination on a national level, compared to 98% of high-income countries. When administered properly, HPV vaccination can avert 17.4 deaths for every 1,000 girls vaccinated. Combining it with screening and treatment is a sure path to elimination. By vaccinating an additional 120 million girls between 2026 and 2030, some 1.5 million lives could be saved.