More than 1 million cervical cancer deaths have been prevented, and an estimated 86 million girls are now protected against the leading cause of cervical cancer, as a result of a concerted three-year effort by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and lower-income countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This milestone, announced on the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, follows a major revitalisation of Gavi\u2019s HPV vaccine programme that began in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEvery two minutes, a woman dies from cervical cancer – a disease that is both devastating and largely preventable,\u201d said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn 2023, Gavi, in partnership with countries across the world, launched an ambitious campaign to protect 86 million girls against the primary cause of cervical cancer and prevent more than a million deaths. Thanks to incredible commitment from countries, partners, civil society, and communities, we have now reached that target ahead of schedule. This collaborative effort is driving major global progress towards eliminating one of the deadliest diseases affecting women.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cervical cancer strikes hardest in lower-income countries, which often lack screening services and equitable access to treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a result, these countries account for 90% of the 350,000 deaths from cervical cancer recorded in 2022. Yet a safe and effective vaccine exists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HPV vaccine – which protects against the human papillomavirus, the primary cause of cervical cancer – is highly effective, averting 17.4 deaths for every 1,000 children vaccinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Gavi launched its HPV vaccination programme in 2014, access to the vaccine remained limited and inequitable due to inadequate vaccine supply, lack of data on effective delivery methods, and lack of awareness of the importance of HPV vaccination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Africa \u2013 home to many Gavi-supported countries and among the regions hardest hit by cervical cancer \u2013 coverage stood at 4%. Over the next 8 years, Gavi worked with countries, partners and manufacturers to overcome challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the end of 2022, Gavi-supported HPV vaccinations had protected more than 13 million girls, yet coverage was still far from optimal \u2013 global coverage stood at just 14% of eligible girls, and in Africa, at 15%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2023 Gavi announced its intention to revitalize its HPV vaccination programme \u2013 with an ambitious target to protect 86 million girls by the end of 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These efforts are estimated to have prevented 1.4 million cervical cancer deaths and, with more than 50 countries introducing the vaccine with Gavi support by the end of 2025, the vaccine will be available in countries that collectively account for 89% of all cervical cancer cases globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the end of 2024, coverage in Africa had risen to 44% \u2013 surpassing coverage rates in Europe (38% by end 2024). HPV vaccine coverage across all Gavi-supported countries also steadily increased to 25% by end 2024, compared to 8% in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This investment in HPV vaccines is not only saving lives: it also generates measurable economic returns and helps to build stronger, more resilient communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prevention of illness and death from cervical cancer between 2014 and 2024 across all Gavi-supported countries will generate more than US$2.3 billion in economic benefits<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
More than 1 million cervical cancer deaths have been prevented, and an estimated 86 million girls are now protected against the leading cause of cervical cancer, as a result of a concerted three-year effort by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and lower-income countries. This milestone, announced on the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, follows a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14232,"featured_media":719828,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1789,25,1,2884,4],"tags":[4268,1981,10155,9207,491],"coauthors":[2006],"class_list":["post-784973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-capital-health","category-headlines","category-kenya","category-vaccination-campaign","category-world","tag-cervical-cancer","tag-featured","tag-gavi","tag-hpv-vaccine","tag-kenya"],"yoast_head":"\n