News
27 June 2018

UICC members respond to the global call to action to eliminate cervical cancer

The ambitious call to action from Director General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Tedros is met with excitement.

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An urgent call for national action

We want to show the world that civil society organisations across the globe are ready, willing, and able to step up to the challenge to eliminate cervical cancer. We will be reaching out to civil society organisations beyond the cancer community to sign up also. The UN Partnership on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, UNAIDS, UNFPA and GAVI have already signalled that they will be reaching out their own constituencies with the same message.

Generations free of the threat of cervical cancer

Civil society organisations active across the spectrum of health and community education and wellbeing are ready to step up to eliminate cervical cancer.
In response to the global call to action by WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros in May 2018, we make a collective call to Heads of States for urgency in making national commitments to scale-up implementation of vital services that leave no one behind. 

Cervical cancer, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and particularly devastating in those living with HIV co-infection, is a growing public health concern. Currently, every 2 minutes a life is lost to this disease. The fact that nearly 9 of 10 these deaths are women in low and middle income countries, describes the glaring global divide in access to life-saving information and services.

We already have proven and cost-effective solutions to prevent cervical cancer, to treat it and to care for those with late stage disease. We are urging Heads of State to demonstrate political leadership, make commitments and take action to put in place national programmes with equitable access and coverage to services:

  • Public information and education services across the life course to build health literacy and health provider skill sets
  • HPV vaccination of at least 80% of the target population
  • Screen all age-eligible women with prompt follow up and treatment of women who screen positive for cervical pre-cancerous lesions.
  • Early detection, prompt referral and optimal multidisciplinary treatment of invasive cervical cancer.
  • Pain management and palliative care for all that need them

Your decisive action and sustained commitment to national programmes will save lives, improve wellbeing and provide economic benefits for families and communities.

Endorse the statement

To find out what other organisations have already endorsed the statement and what other actions you can take please visit this page.

Last update

Friday 07 June 2019

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