Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action - EMPOWERING India Towards a CERVICAL CANCER Free Future

As per GLOBOCAN, there were 1,27,600 new cases and 79,900 deaths reported in India with a 5-year prevalence of 3,39,589 related to cervical cancer in 2022. The age adjusted incidence rate was 17.7 per 100,000 per year and mortality 11.1 per 100,000 per year. Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease if detected early and managed effectively. Despite the best efforts, it remains one of the leading causes of cancer mortality among women, due to gaps in screening, vaccination, and treatment access. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set ambitious goals for global cervical cancer elimination, aiming for a 90-70-90 target by 2030 accelerate the progress: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15, 70% of women screened by age 35, and again by 45, and 90% of women with precancerous lesions or cervical cancer receiving treatment. On Cervical Cancer Elimination Day on 17th November 2024, we are trying to initiate a discussion on a road map on how to achieve the 2030 cervical cancer elimination goals in India.

Main Objectives

•To Identify gaps and barriers to the promotion of existing interventions for cervical cancer elimination.

• To define a road map to achieve the WHO elimination goal of 90/70/90 for cervical cancer, by reviewing the scientific evidence, key policy options, and interventions that have proven successful in achieving cervical cancer elimination goals

• To mobilize scientific and public health communities, civil society, and media.

Specific Objectives

• To promote effective strategies and actions at the community level for HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening with treatment of precancer in support of primary and secondary preventive measures.

• To advocate for the integration of HPV vaccination in to the national immunization programme.

• To propose the integration of cervical cancer screening and precancer into the continuum of cervical cancer care.

• To advocate for early diagnosis, timely referral and optimal treatment for women with invasive cervical cancer.

• To develop partnerships and collaboration between all the institutions, hospitals, and organizations that are working to achieve cervical cancer elimination goals.

• To agree on future steps to build a strategy for effective implementation and enforcement at ground level.

Target Audience:

Healthcare professionals engaged in cervical cancer care, Policy-makers, Public health officials, Community leaders, Advocacy organizations, Students, Educators, Media representatives, Parents, Government and Corporate employees

Expected Outcomes

• A set of policy options and effective interventions for achieving elimination goals of cervical cancer in India.

• Key messages to the media and the public to raise awareness about various aspects of cervical cancer

• Establishment of a coordinated network of institutions for primary and secondary prevention of cervical cancer, involving scientific experts, professional societies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), academic and governmental institutions, media, and others.

• Strengthened partnerships between the government, healthcare providers, pharma industry, and NGOs to advance policy support and funding for cervical cancer elimination.