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As world leaders convene in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for this weekend's G20 Summit, the city's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue will be bathed in teal light, symbolizing a global commitment to eradicate cervical cancer. This initiative is part of a concerted effort led by Brazilian advocates and the World Health Organization (WHO) to galvanize worldwide participation in the "Day of Action for Cervical Cancer Elimination."
Around the globe, countries are marking this pivotal day by rolling out human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drives, enhancing cervical screening programs, and launching new health policies. These actions are aligned with the world’s first-ever initiative aimed at eliminating cervical cancer—a commitment made by 194 countries alongside the WHO's global strategy, introduced exactly four years ago.
Significant strides have been made since the global resolution was enacted. To date, 144 countries have implemented the HPV vaccine, more than 60 include HPV testing in their cervical screening programs, and 83 provide surgical-care services for cervical cancer within their health-benefit packages.
Acknowledging the progress, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed gratitude towards health workers critical to this global push. However, he also emphasized the persistent disparities, with women in low-income nations bearing a disproportionate share of the disease burden. Dr. Ghebreyesus called for strong leadership and sustained investment to achieve equitable access where it is most urgently needed.
Various governments and organizations are marking this fourth year of advocacy with diverse activities and pledges. In South America, Chile will pilot self-collection with HPV testing as part of health care reform. In Africa, Ethiopia, bolstered by Gavi, is targeting over 7 million girls with an HPV vaccination campaign. Similarly, the Democratic Republic of the Congo plans a strategic forum culminating in an awareness march.
Across Asia, China will engage its populace with academic lectures and health runs in 31 cities, while Japan will light up more than 70 landmarks in its annual Teal Blue Campaign. India’s civil society groups will drive awareness and provide training for healthcare providers throughout multiple states.
Additional contributions see Ireland launching its Action Plan toward achieving cervical cancer elimination by 2040 and Nigeria’s First Ladies advocating for increased awareness. Rwanda aims to achieve ambitious targets three years ahead of the global timeline, and South Africa is enhancing healthcare workforce training.
WHO is also unveiling new guidelines on Target Product Profiles (TPPs) for HPV screening tests. These guidelines advocate for tests that can operate globally, even in remote locations where cervical cancer prevalence is highest. Emphasizing affordability and accessibility, the guidelines stress self-collection and testing near where women receive care, thereby driving transformative change in resource-limited areas.
This collaborative global effort represents a historic step forward since WHO's 2018 call to action, igniting a social movement that rallies communities worldwide annually for cervical cancer elimination.
