Global Push to End Cervical Cancer Gains Momentum
The first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day has marked a historic milestone in the fight against a disease that is largely preventable. The World Health Assembly established it to raise awareness of the need to vaccinate, screen, and treat women and girls against cervical cancer, which claims over 350,000 lives each year.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and its partners have celebrated the achievement of protecting 86 million girls with the HPV vaccine ahead of schedule, preventing an estimated 1.4 million deaths. This follows a major revitalisation of Gavi's HPV vaccine programme that began in 2023.
As a result of the global effort, strong political commitment, innovative strategies such as single-dose schedules, and investments in supply, data, and community engagement, the foundation is laid for achieving the WHO's 90-70-90 targets and cervical cancer elimination.
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Africa:
World Marks Cervical Cancer Elimination Day As Countries Accelerate Action
WHO, 17 November 2025
Today marks the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day - mandated by the World Health Assembly - a historic milestone in global efforts to end a preventable cancer. This day… Read more »
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Africa:
Cervical Cancer Vaccines Save Over 1 Million Lives in Lower-Income Countries
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, 17 November 2025
Major push by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and lower-income countries to extend access to the HPV vaccine has reached its target ahead of schedule - helping protect an estimated [1]… Read more »
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Nigeria:
Cervical Cancer - 32 African Countries Now Offering HPV Vaccine - WHO
Premium Times, 17 November 2025
According to him, the 32 countries that have already rolled out the HPV vaccine are now reaching nearly half of all eligible girls across the region Read more »
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Africa:
Eliminating Cervical Cancer in Africa - Dr Issimouha Dillé Explains Why Africa Can Win the Fight Against Cervical Cancer
WHO-AFRO, 17 November 2025
Cervical cancer remains one of the major public health challenges in Africa, even though it is almost entirely preventable. Read more »
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Africa:
Cervical Cancer Vaccine Push Has Saved 1.4 Million Lives - Gavi
Vanguard, 17 November 2025
A three-year campaign to bring vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) to low-income countries has prevented 1.4 million cervical cancer deaths, the vaccine alliance Gavi said… Read more »
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South Africa:
SA Faces a Cervical Cancer Crisis As a Woman Dies Very 67 Minutes
Daily Maverick, 6 November 2025
In May 2025, South Africa and Nigeria successfully sponsored a World Health Assembly resolution declaring 17 November as World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day. A proud achievement,… Read more »
InFocus
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We have the tools and the opportunity to eliminate cervical cancer. Realizing that opportunity requires determined political leadership. As world leaders gather in Rio de Janeiro for the G20 Leaders' Summit, we need their commitment to maximize access to the tools that can deliver it, writes WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for allAfrica.
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Cervical cancer presents a substantial challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 120,000 cases annually out of the global total of 690,000, compounded by the HIV epidemic.
To accelerate progress against cervical cancer, the WHO Africa Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group (RITAG) advocated for the adoption of a single-dose schedule for the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Africa, aligning with
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In a groundbreaking move at the Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum in Colombia, governments, donors, and partners have joined forces to eradicate this preventable disease.
Commitments were made by DR Congo, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, included introducing the HPV vaccine for girls, expanding vaccination coverage, and increasing annual screenings for women.
This collective action, coupled with nearly
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HPV vaccination day at an Anglican primary school in Eswatini.
