World Marks First Cervical Cancer Elimination Day as Nations Scale Up Action

Continued investment in vaccination supply, community-based outreach, digital health tools, treatment infrastructure, and workforce training will be essential to maintain progress.

The world is commemorating the inaugural World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, a landmark event mandated by the World Health Assembly to accelerate global efforts toward ending one of the most preventable yet deadly cancers affecting women. This historic new observance reflects growing international momentum to expand HPV vaccination, improve screening and early detection, and ensure timely treatment—placing the elimination of cervical cancer firmly within reach.

A Preventable Cancer, a Global Call to Action

Cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer among women, claiming more than 350,000 lives each year. Yet the disease is almost entirely preventable through a combination of HPV vaccination, regular screening, and treatment of precancerous and cancerous lesions.

World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day amplifies WHO’s global elimination strategy, which calls for countries to meet the 90–70–90 targets by 2030:

• 90% of girls fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15

• 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by ages 35 and 45

• 90% of women with precancer or cancer receiving appropriate treatment

These targets form the backbone of WHO’s vision to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem within the lifetime of today’s young girls.

“A dream becoming a reality” — WHO Director-General

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reflected on the progress gained since the initiative’s launch:

“In 2018, I was proud to launch the global call to action on cervical cancer elimination, and I’m even prouder now to see what was once a distant dream becoming a reality. More and more countries are scaling up HPV vaccination, improving screening, and expanding treatment, bringing us closer to a future free of cervical cancer.”

This optimism is reinforced by major new milestones. According to an announcement from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the global target to vaccinate 86 million girls by the end of 2025 has already been met, signalling an unprecedented wave of national action.

A Global Wave of National Campaigns and Commitments

Countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America are marking the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day with vaccination drives, screening campaigns, advocacy events, and public mobilization efforts. Below are highlights from the past year—now forming the foundation of this global observance:

Africa’s Rapid Momentum

• Sierra Leone & Liberia: Launch HPV vaccination campaigns targeting over 1.5 million girls; Sierra Leone begins a nationwide screening campaign across all districts.

• Angola: HPV vaccination programme initiated for girls aged 9–12.

• Ghana: Nationwide HPV vaccination campaign aims to reach 2.4 million girls.

• Nigeria: National elimination efforts strengthened through a US$ 700,000 investment from the First Lady’s ‘Renewed Hope Initiative’.

• Rwanda: Mission 2027 accelerates screening and treatment, aiming to reach the 90–70–90 targets three years ahead of the global goal.

Asia’s Expanding Leadership

• China: Adds HPV vaccine to its national immunization programme, ensuring vaccination for all 13-year-old girls.

• Indonesia: Hosts the Second Global Forum for Cervical Cancer Elimination and reaffirms 2030 elimination targets through bold national strategies.

• Nepal: Conducts a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign for girls aged 10–14 during its rollout of HPV into the national schedule.

• Pakistan: Launches the largest HPV vaccination campaign ever conducted by a single country, reaching over 9 million girls.

• Tajikistan: Introduces routine HPV vaccination for girls aged 10–14.

• Malaysia: Survivor-led awareness weeks promote self-sampling HPV testing, a game-changing innovation for screening accessibility.

Middle East & North Africa

• Tunisia: Adds HPV vaccination to its national immunization programme in April 2025.

Europe & the Global Stage

• Spain: Through AECID, commits a three-year investment to support HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment in African and Eastern Mediterranean regions.

• South Africa: Elevates cervical cancer elimination to the G20 health agenda and co-leads the resolution establishing World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.

Western Pacific Region

• Unitaid and WHO strengthen efforts to expand screening and treatment services across the region, focusing on equitable access and innovative screening approaches.

A New Era of Global Mobilization

The introduction of World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day serves not only as a symbolic milestone but as a practical mechanism to:

• Strengthen advocacy

• Mobilize funding

• Boost service delivery

• Unite governments, civil society, and global health partners

• Raise public awareness about prevention and early detection

With countries scaling up action, innovative technologies such as self-sampling HPV testing, and increasing political commitment, the world is closer than ever to achieving the elimination of a cancer that has for too long taken the lives of women—especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Looking Ahead: Sustaining Momentum

The global community now faces the challenge of ensuring that commitments translate into sustained action. Continued investment in vaccination supply, community-based outreach, digital health tools, treatment infrastructure, and workforce training will be essential to maintain progress.

But today offers unprecedented hope. For the first time in history, eliminating a major cancer is not just aspirational—it is achievable.