🎗️ Cervical cancer could become the first cancer type to be completely eliminated

• Unlike most other cancers, cervical cancer can be prevented and completely eliminated using existing tools.
• Several high-income countries are close to elimination, with fewer than four cases per 100,000 women.

Towards total elimination

Cervical cancer could become the first cancer type to be completely eliminated. With today's tools - vaccines, diagnostics and treatments - virtually all cases can be prevented. Several high-income countries are already approaching elimination, which is defined as fewer than four cases per 100,000 women, according to the WHO.

Since 2018, over 60 new countries have introduced HPV vaccines in their vaccination programs. In total, 144 countries now offer routine HPV vaccination. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, plans to vaccinate 120 million children by 2030.

New portable battery-powered devices enable treatment of precancerous conditions even in remote areas. This increases access to treatment for women living far from major hospitals.

Rwanda leads the way

Rwanda demonstrates that significant results in the fight against cervical cancer are possible. The country introduced HPV vaccination in 2011 and has now reached 90 percent vaccination coverage. In two districts - Gicumbi and Karongi - Rwanda already meets all WHO targets for prevention and treatment.

Nigeria presents impressive figures in its vaccination program. Since its launch in October last year, the country has vaccinated 12.3 million girls against HPV. This shows that large-scale vaccination programs can be implemented effectively even in countries with large populations.

Technical advances simplify prevention

Scientific development has led to a single vaccine dose now being sufficient to prevent cervical cancer. 60 countries have already implemented this single-dose protocol, making it easier to reach more people.

Over 60 countries now use high-performance HPV tests in their screening programs. In Australia, more than a quarter of all screening tests are conducted through self-sampling. Several countries are also exploring the use of artificial intelligence to improve screening precision in resource-limited areas.

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