‘End the suffering’: World Health Organisation introduces plan to eradicate cervical cancer
A woman is killed by cervical cancer every two minutes around the world
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The World Health Organisation has implemented plans to eradicate cervical cancer around the world - with public health professionals celebrating the move as an “unprecedented milestone”.
A strategy outlined by the UN agency involves vaccinating nine in ten girls by the age of 15 and screening seven in 10 women by the age of 35 and then again by the time they turn 45.
Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer for women in 42 countries, while a woman is killed by cervical cancer every two minutes around the world.
Dr Princess Nothemba Simelela, the assistant director general of the World Health Organisation, said:“This is a big milestone in global health because for the first time the world has agreed to eliminate the only cancer we can prevent with a vaccine and the only cancer which is curable if detected early.
“We have an opportunity, as the global health community, to end the suffering from this cancer.”
The vast majority of cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) – an infection that around eight in 10 people in the UK will contract but can now be vaccinated against.
The HPV vaccine is now provided to children across the UK and expected to save many lives.
The newly unveiled plans, which were supported by World Health Organisation member states last week, involve treating 90 per cent of women who have cervical cancer.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organisation, said: “Eliminating any cancer would have once seemed an impossible dream, but we now have the cost-effective, evidence-based tools to make that dream a reality”.
Some 90 per cent of all cervical cancer deaths take place in low and middle-income nations. The new strategy hopes to tackle this by rolling out vaccines, screening and treatment more widely.
Dr Cary Adams, chief executive of the Union for International Cancer Control, the largest global organisation which fights cancer, said: “It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of this global strategy. This is not merely aspirational but a truly realistic goal.
“For the first time in history, the world could see the elimination not only of a cancer but of a non-communicable disease.”
Cervical screening, commonly referred to as a smear test, helps to pick up early signs of cell changes in the cervix that can turn into cancer.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments