Why you should care about cervical cancer elimination day and how countries are speeding up the fight

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by WHO, click this post to read the original article.

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Today marks the first-ever World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, a global milestone initiated by the World Health Assembly to spotlight the urgency of ending a preventable disease. You’ll learn that this day drives global momentum, encouraging countries to launch strong HPV vaccination campaigns, expand cervical cancer screening, and improve treatment services. With cervical cancer being the fourth most common cancer in women and claiming over 350,000 lives annually, the day aims to promote existing tools and strategies for eliminating it, following WHO’s goal of 90% vaccination of girls, 70% screening of women, and treatment for 90% of those affected.

You’ll notice significant strides have already been made. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized that what was once a dream is becoming reality, as more nations enhance their vaccination, screening, and treatment efforts. The momentum is further supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which reported that the target of reaching 86 million girls with HPV vaccines by the end of 2025 has been achieved. This reflects a broader, united movement by countries to expand their national plans and ensure access to life-saving care.

Around the globe, you’re seeing countries using this day to take tangible actions. In Sierra Leone and Liberia, vaccination drives are reaching over 1.5 million girls, while Sierra Leone is also launching a district-wide screening campaign. Malaysia is focusing on awareness, with survivors advocating for self-sampling HPV tests, a key method for expanding access. These events are creating a strong foundation for future action in cervical cancer elimination.

Over the past year, many countries have made notable progress. If you’re looking at Angola, they began an HPV vaccination drive for girls aged 9–12. China and Cuba integrated the HPV vaccine into their national immunization programs. In Pakistan, over 9 million girls were reached in the world’s largest HPV campaign. Nigeria and Rwanda launched national strategies backed by major financial and policy commitments, supporting WHO’s vision and targets.

Efforts also extended beyond country borders. In the WHO Western Pacific Region, global partnerships are working to provide equitable access to cervical cancer prevention tools. Spain, South Africa, and other countries are also supporting initiatives both locally and internationally. Through these collective efforts, you’re witnessing global acceleration toward meeting the 90-70-90 targets, paving the way for the elimination of cervical cancer in the near future.