WHO Urges to Speed Up Efforts to Eliminate Cervical Cancer by 2030

WHO is prioritising cervical cancer elimination by 2030, as cervical cancer remains to be one of the gravest threats to women's lives.

World Health Organization (WHO) has urged South-East Asian countries to speed up efforts to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.

"Countries need to expand vaccination, screening, detection and treatment services for everyone, everywhere to address the growing problem of cervical cancer," said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee here in Delhi.

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month - It is Preventable
Cervical cancer awareness month observed in January each year aims to raise and spread awareness about cervical cancer (cancer cervix), the majority of which can be easily prevented by regular Pap screening tests

‘There is a need to strengthen national cervical cancer control plans, including appropriate strategies and guidelines for immunisation, screening, treatment and care.’

Cervical cancer is a significant public health problem in the region.

In 2018, an estimated 158,000 new cases and 95,766 deaths were reported due to cervical cancer, which is the third most common type of cancer.

Addressing cancer risk factors and reducing its prevalence has been a regional flagship priority since 2014, and all countries in the region are taking measures for screening and treatment of pre-cancers, WHO said in a statement.

How Cervical Cancer-causing Strain may be Present in Your Throat
The Human papillomavirus strain that may cause cervical cancer may be present on the surface of tonsils at the back of the throat finds a new study.

According to the WHO, four countries in the Region - Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand - have introduced HPV vaccines nationally.

"We need to scale up both our capacities and quality for screening, treatment services and palliative care," Singh said.

HPV Screening Test Might Just be Enough for Cervical Cancer Detection
HPV screening test might be a better cervical cancer detection tool than Pap smear test, and thereby the HPV test alone might be sufficient.

Vaccination against human papillomavirus, screening and treatment of pre-cancer, early detection and prompt treatment of early invasive cancers and palliative care are proven effective strategies to address cervical cancer.

Member countries are working towards interim global targets - of achieving 90 per cent girls fully vaccinated with the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine by 15 years of age; having 70 per cent women screened with a high-precision test at 35 and 45 years of age: and of 90 per cent women identified with the cervical disease receiving treatment and care by 2030.

Cervical Screening Will Only be Needed Three Times With HPV Vaccine
Now with the HPV vaccine, screening will only be needed three times in women. The new programme called HPV primary testing is set to be introduced in England by December 2019.

The WHO South-East Asia Regional Director said there is a need to strengthen national cervical cancer control plans, including appropriate strategies and guidelines for immunisation, screening, treatment and care, including palliative care.

WHO is prioritising cervical cancer elimination as worldwide cervical cancer remains one of the gravest threats to women's lives.

Source-IANS