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23 December 2020

What eliminating cervical cancer means to the world

On November 17th 2020, communities across the globe came together to celebrate the world’s first-ever commitment to eliminating a cancer, with the formal launch of our new Global Strategy [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2020/11/17/default-calendar/launch-of-the-global-strategy-to-accelerate-the-elimination-of-cervical-cancer] for a cervical cancer-free future. Conducted virtually, the event opened with powerful testimonies from women who have lived with cervical cancer and united a wide range of groups and partners, including survivors, advocates, First Ladies, activists, researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers.

Around the world, the celebration continued as individuals, communities, and regions affirmed this shared commitment in a day of action. Partners hosted companion events and launch activities in 25 countries – from Brazil, Japan and Malawi to the Philippines, Slovenia and India.

More than just an announcement, the day acknowledged the continued advocacy and collective efforts of so many for whom cervical cancer elimination is deeply personal. It was a day centred on the faces and voices often masked by statistics – those who inspire us to work toward a future where no woman suffers from this devastating disease.

As we reflect on what the launch meant to communities around the world, let us remember that this historic milestone is just the beginning of our journey. In their honour, let’s continue working together to fulfil our shared commitment to a cervical cancer-free future for women and girls everywhere, starting with Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in January. I hope you will join us in continuing the needed momentum in pursuit of eliminating this disease next month and beyond.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter @DrNonoSimelela [https://twitter.com/drnonosimelela] to keep up with our progress. Please share this newsletter with friends and colleagues who are interested in learning more about our work – and in making a difference in the fight against cervical cancer. They can sign up to receive monthly updates here [https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/111B22A75495D78E].

Thank you,

Dr Nono Simelela

Assistant Director-General

Special Adviser to the Director-General on Strategic Programmatic Priorities

The world glows teal for cervical cancer elimination

To mark the launch, almost 100 landmarks across the globe were lit in teal, the colour of cervical cancer awareness. The widespread illumination was a visual display of unity and hope.

City Hall, Paris, France

Dubai Frame, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Palacio de López, Paraguay

Nijō Castle, Japan

Melbourne Town Hall, Australia

Par Excellence Academy glimmers with hope for a cervical cancer-free future

Photo credit: Helena Stephenson and Par Excellence Academy

Helena Stephenson is a cervical cancer survivor and mother of two from the United States. She was diagnosed in her twenties, yet her cancer reached the stage of being inoperable. “Due to the fact that I also have autism, my symptoms were ignored for over a year,” Stephenson says. “Women with disabilities are often ignored when it comes to our reproductive health. I hope my story brings a face to the disabled women in this movement.”

For Stephenson, the launch meant a brighter future not only for her daughter, but also for other girls and women. “The WHO launch for me meant my daughter won’t have to do 25 rounds of radiation. The launch meant another woman won’t lay in a brachytherapy suite listening to nurses speak about their vacations while she can’t make plans because she doesn’t know if she will have a future,” Stephenson says. “Cervical cancer is dismissed as not being serious, or those of us with invasive cervical cancer are shamed for our diagnosis. If those of us who have lived through this horrible disease talk more about cervical cancer, we could save generations of women. Not one more woman has to die from cervical cancer.”

Stephenson encourages her fellow parents to consider the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine for their daughters so they won’t have to experience what she did. “I know the HPV vaccine is a hot topic among parents. I promise chemotherapy is worse than the temporary side effects of the vaccine,” she says.

To celebrate the launch, Stephenson organized a lighting ceremony at her children’s school. “When Par Excellence Academy lit up in teal, it was as if a great amount of sorrow I carried with me was lifted,” she says. “I look forward to a cervical cancer-free world.”

A day of awareness for Namibia’s Conscious Millennials

Photo credit: Conscious Millennials

Four young women from Namibia’s capital of Windhoek originally wanted to organize a lighting event for the launch. When they were unable to secure funding, they decided to celebrate with their own day of awareness. Calling themselves the Conscious Millennials, the group donned teal ribbons and got together to improve their health literacy around cervical cancer by researching the signs and symptoms of the disease and the screening and treatment services available to them in Namibia.

“To us, the launch means women’s empowerment. An informed woman is an empowered

woman,” says Leena Amwaalwa, a member of the Conscious Millennials. “It means informing those who are not yet aware, celebrating with those who have recovered, standing with those who are still fighting, and honouring the memories of those who have lost their lives to cervical cancer.”

A quilt for cervical cancer elimination in Bangladesh

Photo credit: UNFPA Bangladesh

Midwives, nurses, and doctors in Bangladesh joined hands to create a beautiful quilt in an artistic display of solidarity marking the launch of the Global Strategy. Each section of the quilt was sewn from pieces of teal-coloured cloth shared by healthcare professionals and women receiving care from over 20 districts across the country. Unveiled during a national launch event hosted by UNFPA Bangladesh [https://twitter.com/UNFPABangladesh/status/1328661428312682506], the quilt “symbolizes the unity, camaraderie and collective action required to achieve a Cervical Cancer-Free Future [https://twitter.com/hashtag/CervicalCancerFreeFuture?src=hashtag_click].”

A day of action across India

India celebrated the launch of the global strategy in a day filled with activities to raise awareness and motivate action for cervical cancer elimination. Activities included a national workshop; webinars to inform healthcare professionals, journalists and the public about cervical cancer prevention and control; and free screening programmes in hospitals.

The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) and the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) also hosted an essay, poster and slogan competition for cervical cancer prevention in support of the call for elimination.

Screening for cervical cancer elimination in Kenya

In celebration of the launch, Kenya’s Ministry of Health and the County First Ladies Association (CFLA) organized a women’s health screening campaign. The event took place in Mathare North Health Centre and Empower Clinics in selected counties, with services on offer such as cervical cancer screening, HPV vaccination for 10-year-old girls, breast examinations and health education.

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Kenya. As Dr Nono Simelela and CFLA chairperson Maria Mbeneka wrote in a joint op-ed [https://www.the-star.co.ke/opinion/columnists/2020-11-17-eliminate-cervical-cancer-now/], “With the world’s recent adoption of the resolution to eliminate cervical cancer, Kenya must urgently choose. If we act now, Kenya could be among the countries that will finally eliminate cervical cancer.”

First Ladies call for cervical cancer elimination in Nigeria and beyond

Similarly, Nigeria’s First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC) are advocating for the urgent need to eliminate cervical cancer. In a joint op-ed [https://nigeriahealthwatch.com/nigerias-first-ladies-and-the-who-advocate-for-the-urgent-need-to-eliminate-cervical-cancer/] written with Dr Nono Simelela, the organization stated, “At FLAC, we are committed to using our voices and platform to continue our advocacy for sustainable results and we call on the world to join us to win this fight. Committing to the elimination of cervical cancer will ensure women no longer suffer and die from a preventable and curable disease.”

Advocate Spotlight: Icó Tóth and ENGAGe

Photo credit: Icó Tóth

For Icó Tóth, the launch of the global strategy carried the immense weight of finally bringing the world together in what has been a personal mission to eliminate cervical cancer. As an advocate and cervical cancer survivor herself, Icó always knew she wanted to help other women. “The fact that I am not alone in this gives me tremendous strength, which I will use to benefit not only myself but everyone,” she says. As president of the Mallow Flower Foundation [http://mallowflower.com/introduction/] and co-chair of the European Network of Gynaecological Cancer Advocacy Groups [https://engage.esgo.org/] (ENGAGe), Icó harnesses this strength to support women struggling with cervical cancer and raise awareness for prevention.

ENGAGe works toward cervical cancer prevention and supporting patients with gynaecological cancers. With 60 patient advocacy groups across 27 European countries, ENGAGe shares best practices and builds public awareness through seminars and educational courses, as well as providing information in the form of fact sheets, leaflets and brochures which members translate into their national languages. The organization also started ENGAGe TEENS for gynaecological cancer prevention among youth and established World Gynaecological Oncology Day (World GO Day), a campaign for cancer prevention, early detection and awareness of access to treatments, which takes place annually on 20 September.

Both Icó and ENGAGe are excited about the possibilities that the launch of the global strategy brings. “The launch has shone a spotlight on the fact that we must cooperate, and now is the time for it,” she says. “I hope that those who have already been drawing attention to cervical cancer will not stop but will instead join us to work together. It would be good to get to know each other better, keep in touch, pass on information and find out what else we can do to strengthen motivation. The experience is with us, the strength is in us and I hope the launch has started it.”

The global burden of cervical cancer associated with HIV

Alongside the launch of the Global Strategy and World AIDS Day, WHO released the first estimates of the contribution of HIV to the global cervical cancer burden [https://www.who.int/news/item/16-11-2020-who-releases-new-estimates-of-the-global-burden-of-cervical-cancer-associated-with-hiv]. Women living with HIV are 6 times more likely to develop cervical cancer than women without HIV. Moreover, an estimated 5% of all cervical cancer cases worldwide are attributable to HIV, with 85% of women with cervical cancer and HIV living in sub-Saharan Africa.

Preventing both cervical cancer and HIV could end this stark global disparity. It is vital that cervical cancer screening and treatment is integrated with HIV services, and all women are reached in order to reduce cervical cancer among women living with HIV.

Read more about the study here [https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30459-9/fulltext].

WHO documentation released during the launch of strategy to eliminate cervical cancer Global [https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240014107] strategy [https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240014107] to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer (2020)

WHO framework for strengthening and scaling-up services for the management of invasive cervical cancer [https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240003231] and accompanying infographic [https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/cervical-cancer/events/who-framework-invasive-cx-ca-infographic-final.pdf?sfvrsn=62358f73_4] (2020)

Introducing and scaling up testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) as part of a comprehensive programme for prevention and control of cervical cancer [https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240015166]: a step-by-step guide for programme managers and policy-makers following the decision to introduce and/or scale-up HPV virological testing for screening (2020)

Guidance for post-market surveillance and market surveillance of medical devices, including in vitro diagnostics [https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/guidance-for-post-market-surveillance-and-market-surveillance-of-medical-devices-including-in-vitro-diagnostics] (2020)

Costing plans for Mongolia [https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/cervical-cancer/mongolia-cxca-costing-report-20201109-2.pdf?sfvrsn=ae8f15cf_4], Myanmar [https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/cervical-cancer/myanmar-cxca-costing-report-20201109-2.pdf?sfvrsn=6cbe8fdb_6], Nigeria [https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/cervical-cancer/nigeria-cxca-costing-report-20201109.pdf?sfvrsn=124a7fec_4], Tanzania [https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/cervical-cancer/tanzania-cxca-costing-report-20201113.pdf?sfvrsn=52df04eb_4] and Zambia [https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/cervical-cancer/zambia-cxca-costing-report-20201112.pdf?sfvrsn=a433474c_4] on prevention and control of cervical cancer: reports that provide estimates of countries’ 5-year costs to implement existing national cervical cancer control plans. Government policy-makers and officers responsible for budgeting or financing plans can use these as exemplars to mobilize additional resources in implementing national elimination efforts (2020). Upcoming Events

Next month is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Learn more about how partners in the global movement for elimination are taking action below and please share how you will be working toward a cervical cancer free future in January by emailing [cxca@who.int].

18th - 24th January: Join Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust for Cervical Cancer Prevention Week [https://www.jostrust.org.uk/get-involved/campaign/cervical-cancer-prevention-week]

24th - 30th January: HPV Prevention Week [https://www.amwa-doc.org/hpv-week-2021/] organized by American Medical Women’s Association, Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer (GIAHC), and Indiana University National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health.

27th January: Special Focus Dialogue-Cervical Cancer Elimination: A need for and driver of health convergence [https://www.uicc.org/events/special-focus-dialogue-cervical-cancer-elimination-need-and-driver-health-convergence], 15:00-17:00 CET hosted in partnership by UICC and JHPIEGO

Stay tuned and follow @WHO [https://twitter.com/who?lang=en] as we continue raising awareness on this critical topic for women and girls throughout January and beyond.

Learn more about WHO's work to eliminate Cervical Cancer [https://www.who.int/health-topics/cervical-cancer#tab=tab_1]

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