FIVE-YEAR GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO PROTECT ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS FROM CERVICAL CANCER KICKS OFF IN LONDON
Wide ranging commitments to bring cervical cancer prevention to the women who need it most

London, 4 November, 2015— Cervical Cancer Action (CCA), a coalition of global health advocates, hosted leaders from governments in Africa, Latin American and Asia, along with representatives from the World Health Organization, United Nations Agencies, global philanthropies, international not-for-profit organizations and vaccine and medical diagnostic companies in London today to launch a global initiative to tackle the growing burden of cervical cancer in low- and lower-middle income countries.

Taking Cervical Cancer Prevention to Scale: Protecting All Women and Girls is a landmark initiative that aims to increase collaboration, commitment and investment to ensure that all women and girls are protected within ten years. It is focused on expanding and aligning global efforts to ensure that all girls are vaccinated against HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer, and all women receive screening…

…During the meeting, new data on the cost of action to prevent cervical cancer in low-income and lower-middle income countries was released by the American Cancer Society in partnership with a team at Harvard University. “We know what to do, we have the tools, and with the evidence presented at this meeting we also know what it will cost to act,” said Ambassador Sally Cowal, Senior Vice President, Global Cancer Control at the American Cancer Society. US$3.65 billion are required over the next ten years to vaccinate all 10-year-old girls and provide screening and preventive treatment to women at highest risk for cervical cancer in low-income and low-middle income countries.

Cervical Cancer Action, The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Cancer Research UK, Union for International Cancer Control, American Cancer Society, PATH, Grounds for Health, Jhpiego, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), International Planned Parenthood Federation, UNAIDS and Women Deliver are among the initial partners…