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The global strategy for eliminating Cervical cancer by 2030 was approved by all member countries of the World Health Organization. However, the Commonwealth could see one woman die every three minutes if not taken urgent steps to reduce the growing incidence of cervical cancer.<\/p>\n
This estimate is supported with data on the increase in cervical cancer cases (to 324,598) as well as deaths (to 186.066 deaths) by 2030.<\/p>\n
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This was revealed during a June 21 Commonwealth Women\u2019s Forum session held under the theme: Conquering Cervical Cancer in the Commonwealth: Realities, Challenges and opportunities, where leading experts called on governments to accelerate cervical cancer elimination efforts across the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
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Despite having only 30 percent of the world\u2019s population, Commonwealth members account for 40 percent of global cervical cancer incidence and 43 percent of cervical cancer mortality.<\/p>\n
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Cervical cancer is not only curable but preventable. The Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) is one of the key tools that can be used to eradicate cervical cancer.<\/p>\n
HPV, a sexually transmitted virus (STI), is responsible for almost all cervical cancer cases. However, there is increasing evidence that it is a contributing factor in other types of anogenital cancers.\u00a0HPV information Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, only 13% of girls aged 9-14 years have been vaccinated against HPV worldwide as of 2020.<\/p>\n Rwanda’s 1,156,863 female high school students received their first HPV vaccine between 2011 and 2018. This corresponds to 98 percent.<\/p>\n