Director’s Note

Dear Friends,

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous, peaceful, and rejuvenating 2024! As we leave 2023 behind, let's take a moment in this edition of the CCEI Newsletter to celebrate the global efforts made on 17 November 2023. This day, symbolizing our collective resolve to eliminate cervical cancer, marked the third anniversary of the Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination - a significant milestone in our ongoing journey.

The 2023 day of action extended beyond the WHO, sustained by your passionate participation across communities. From HPV screenings to awareness campaigns and the symbolic teal illumination of landmarks, global civil society groups and advocates led the charge. These efforts were matched by governmental commitments worldwide, and I encourage you to visit our campaign website to see how different communities have rallied around this movement.

At WHO, we commemorated this significant day with a global webinar that attracted over 200 participants. This included high-level advocates, regional representatives, and courageous women who shared their personal battles with cervical cancer. The webinar highlighted groundbreaking initiatives that are making a tangible difference in women’s lives.

We also showcased photo exhibition at WHO Headquarters, celebrating the progress, partnerships, and community efforts that have significantly contributed to cervical cancer elimination over the past three years.

In our continued efforts to advocate for this cause, we introduced a new advocacy toolkit complete with updated infographics and social media resources to bolster your advocacy efforts. The outpouring of support and commitment to utilize these resources across social media platforms has been heartening.

A press release from WHO outlined the progress we've made collectively and acknowledged the challenges ahead. It's a reminder of the work still to be done and the resilience we must maintain.

I am immensely grateful for your continued dedication. The milestones achieved in 2023, like the Global Declaration to Eliminate Cancer now representing over 18,800 professionals from 142 countries, are a testament to your efforts. We commend countries like Norway where researchers have found no cervical cancer cases caused by HPV in 25-year-old women who were the first to receive the HPV vaccine as children through a national program. We have also seen advancement in Bhutan for screening 90.8% of its women, and Nigeria and Cambodia for including HPV vaccinations in their national programs.

I am very pleased to begin 2024 with January's cervical cancer awareness month, and will send out a special edition of the CCEI Newsletter highlighting global activities soon. This strong start fills me with optimism for the fruitful and much needed collaborations ahead and our continued strides toward eliminating cervical cancer globally.

Warm regards,

Director, Department of NCDs

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Centre mobilizes for cervical cancer elimination in South Florida

Two years since it was announced as WHO’s first designated Collaborating Centre for Cervical Cancer Elimination, the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Centre continued to highlight its local partnerships and outreach for prevention within underserved communities on the global day of action.

This year, the Centre’s Game Changer Vehicle offered its signature mobile screening services and health information in Hialeah, an area with a high incidence of cervical cancer.

Democratic Republic of the Congo joins the movement to eliminate cervical cancer

For the first time, advocates in Democratic Republic of the Congo joined the world in taking action for cervical cancer elimination on 17 November. Women associations organized a walk together into the city of Kinshasa to raise awareness about cervical cancer vaccination and screening. 

WHO Regional & Country Office

Benin hosts the event under the sign of disease prevention and control to save lives

This year, WCO Benin in collaboration with MoH Benin and with support from AFRO hosted a high-level advocacy event at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou on November 17, 2023, to highlight ongoing efforts to eliminate cervical cancer. The event, which honored the commitment and contributions of Benin's First Lady, Mrs. Claudine Talon, and the Ministry of Health, was attended by the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Scientific Research, the WHO's acting Representative, the UNFPA Representative, the representative of the President of the Claudine Talon Foundation, and other technical and financial partners.

WHO Romania hosts conference on HPV vaccination and screening for cervical cancer

The WHO Country Office for Romania partnered with the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) to host a hybrid conference commemorating the anniversary of the Global strategy. The conference brought together health professionals and representatives from academia, civil society, and professional associations with the aim of catalyzing efforts to expand access to HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening.