The United Nations (UN) has reaffirmed that cervical cancer can be prevented and effectively treated when women have timely access to screening, vaccination, and appropriate medical care.
In a statement issued on Friday, the UN noted that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women globally, adding that January is set aside each year for cancer awareness campaigns.
Cervical cancer is a disease of the reproductive system that begins in the cervix and can spread to other parts of the body if not detected and treated early.
According to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 660,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide in 2022, while an estimated 350,000 died from the disease during the same period. UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, warned that the disease claims the life of a woman every two minutes.
Health experts say nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common virus transmitted through sexual contact. While most sexually active people will contract HPV at some point and clear it naturally, persistent infection with certain high-risk strains can lead to abnormal cell changes that may progress to cancer.
The WHO stressed that cervical cancer remains one of the most preventable and curable cancers when women can access preventive vaccines, routine screening, and early treatment. It recommends HPV vaccination for girls aged 9–14, before sexual activity begins, as well as regular cervical screening from age 30 — or from 25 for women living with HIV.
When detected early, cervical cancer is among the most successfully treatable cancers. However, the UN noted that unequal access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment continues to drive higher rates of illness and death in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, and Southeast Asia.
In a bid to tackle the disease globally, 194 countries launched a WHO-led strategy in 2020 aimed at eliminating cervical cancer. The launch date, November 17, is now observed annually as World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.
The WHO said the strategy outlines three key targets to be met by 2030:
It said, “90 per cent of girls to be fully vaccinated for HPV by age 15.
“70 per cent of women to be screened with a high-performance test by age 35 and again at 45.
“70 per cent of women diagnosed to receive treatment.”
According to the WHO, achieving these goals could prevent an estimated 74 million new cervical cancer cases and save about 62 million lives by the year 2120.
