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.
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