WHO presents new cervical cancer strategy

The World Health Organisation has come up with a new strategy to tackle cervical cancer which kills 311,000 women a year worldwide and is the second most common cancer among women in the African region.

Africa bears its brunt most unfairly, as 19 out of the 20 countries most affected by it are in Africa.

Yet, it’s one of the most preventable and curable forms of cancers through vaccination, early detection and treatment.

“With rates for cervical cancer up to six times higher in the African region than in North America, we can see that the disease is one of inequity,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “But we expect our new global strategy to close this gap.”

At a consultation, held 13-15 May and organized by the WHO Regional Office in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, WHO member states, academia, civil society and UN partners reviewed the draft Global Strategy Towards Cervical Cancer Elimination.

The regional perspective was provided to the draft, and it was agreed that a framework for accelerating and implementing the new global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer in the African region is paramount.

Participants agreed with the suggested elimination threshold of less than four cases per 100,000 people per year as well as to the 90/70/90 targets. These targets refer to 90% of women fully vaccinated by the age of 15, 70% of women screened with a high precision test by 35 years of age and 90% of women with cervical disease receiving appropriate treatment and care.

“In many parts of Africa, cervical cancer is not identified or treated until it has reached an advanced stage due to insufficient access to health care services, effective screening and early treatment,” said Dr. Joseph Caboré, Director for Programme Management, WHO Regional Office for Africa. “We must ensure every woman has access to screening, and those diagnosed with pre-cancer and early invasive cervical cancer receive affordable, effective, and quality treatment.”

Cervical cancer is caused by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) which is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract.

Risk factors associated with it include early sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, smoking, exposure to other sexually transmitted infections such as HIV.