World leaders, advocates, and organizations are joining forces on the third Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action to mark progress and address challenges in the fight against cervical cancer. The initiative, which witnessed Member States adopting a resolution to eliminate the noncommunicable disease, continues to gather support and commitment from nations worldwide.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), while significant progress has been made in the past three years, it is clear that women in poorer countries and marginalized women in wealthier countries still bear the disproportionate burden of cervical cancer. However, with strengthened strategies to improve access to vaccination, screening, and treatment, as well as increased political and financial commitment from countries and support from partners, the vision of eliminating cervical cancer can be realized.

Several countries have shown notable dedication to this cause. Australia is on track to become one of the first nations to eliminate cervical cancer within the next decade. Benin's First Lady, Claudine Talon, will be hosting an HPV screening campaign, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo will participate in the day of action for the first time through a march organized by the Ministry of Health and women's associations.

Recent research from Norway is providing hope, with no reported cases of cervical cancer caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) in 25-year-old women who were vaccinated as children. Indonesia has also announced a commitment to achieving the 90-70-90 targets for cervical cancer elimination by implementing a national cervical cancer elimination plan.

Japan is actively marking the day by lighting up the country in teal, signifying two years since the reintroduction of the HPV vaccine. In England, the National Health Service (NHS) has pledged to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, demonstrating the strong global determination to combat this disease.

In terms of progress on HPV vaccination, 30 additional countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Nigeria, have introduced the HPV vaccine since the launch of the Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer. As of now, 140 countries have incorporated the vaccine into their national immunization programs. The global coverage for girls receiving at least one dose of the HPV vaccine has reached 21% in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time. Sustaining this level of progress could lead to achieving the target of making HPV vaccines accessible to all girls worldwide by 2030.

Efforts towards improved screening and treatment have also been witnessed. Collaborative efforts between Unitaid and Ministries of Health in 14 low- and middle-income countries have led to the milestone of screening over a million women. However, access to comprehensive treatment options such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and palliative care remains inadequate in most countries. Only 65% of countries include cervical cancer screening services and 69% include radiotherapy for treatment of cervical cancer in their health benefit packages.

Countries like El Salvador and Bhutan are leading by example in terms of screening and treatment. El Salvador has set ambitious targets to achieve 70% coverage by 2030 and aims to provide treatment access to 90% of women with cervical diseases. In Bhutan, screening coverage of eligible women stands at an impressive 90.8%, with high treatment rates for cervical pre-cancer and invasive cancer cases.

To enhance screening quality, reduce costs, and increase access to healthcare services, the WHO now endorses HPV testing as the preferred method for cervical cancer screening, including support for self-sampling. Additionally, the prequalification of a fourth HPV test provides countries with an additional screening method to identify patients in need of treatment more effectively.

It is crucial for all countries to work towards meeting the 90-70-90 targets by 2030, with the ultimate aim of eliminating cervical cancer. This includes achieving a vaccination rate of 90% for girls, screening rates of 70% for women, and ensuring that 90% of women with pre-cancer and invasive cancer receive appropriate treatment. With sustained efforts and collaborative actions, the global community can pave the way to a future free from cervical cancer within the next century.