The Canadian Red Cross and HPV Global Action say they are committed to supporting the World Health Organization’s targets that must be met by 2030 for countries to be on the path towards cervical cancer elimination. The two organizations say that cervical cancer is one of today’s most preventable cancers. Approximatively 570,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer around the world in 2018. Among these, more than three hundred thousand women will die. The two organizations say the deaths are preventable. Ninety per cent of these women live in low and middle-income countries.
The Canadian Red Cross and HPV Global Action want to see 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15; 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by the age of 35, and again by the age of 45; and 90% of women identified with cervical disease receiving treatment.
The successful implementation of the strategy could reduce new cases by more than 40% and related deaths by five million within 20 years.
The Canadian Red Cross and HPV Global Action are urging public health policies supporting the WHO strategy to address HPV and its connection to cervical cancer through an intersectional lens to ensure its equitable implementation. They say governments should strengthen healthcare structures for diverse groups, particularly in places where systems are often challenged by resource constraints and health emergencies.
International stakeholders are encouraged to prioritize the WHO objectives and work with healthcare providers, researchers, innovators, local actors, women-led organizations and dedicated partners, like the Canadian Red Cross and HPV Global Action, to ensure the WHO global strategy is successful.
The Canadian Red Cross and HPV Global Action say they are reinforcing their dedication to prevention, screening and treatment, with a focus on those most at risk.
Other organizations, advocates, leaders and industries such as diagnostic, surgical, vaccine and pharmaceutical companies, are being invited to join in working toward eliminating cervical cancer using what is described as an intersectional feminist approach.
