WHO: Wave of New Commitments Marks Historic Step Towards the Elimination of Cervical Cancer
A historic milestone was achieved in the fight against cervical cancer as governments, donors, multilateral institutions, and partners announced major commitments, including nearly US$ 600 million in new funding, at the first-ever Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. With these commitments, there's an opportunity to save hundreds of thousands of lives by 2030 through expanded vaccine coverage and strengthened screening and treatment programs. Cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, disproportionately affects those in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The forum saw re-commitments from countries like Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, who pledged to implement comprehensive strategies including vaccination and screening. The funding includes contributions from various entities like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and the World Bank. Challenges such as supply constraints, delivery issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic hinder progress, but with renewed commitments, it's possible to prevent an estimated 410,000 deaths from cervical cancer by 2030. The forum was co-sponsored by Colombia and Spain in partnership with organizations like PAHO, WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi. Leaders from these organizations expressed optimism and emphasized the urgency of collective action to eliminate cervical cancer. To read more about the Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum, click the link below!