Cervical Cancer Vaccines Save One Million Lives

A major milestone in the global fight against cervical cancer has been recorded as more than one million deaths have been prevented and an estimated 86 million girls have been protected from the primary cause of the disease. This achievement follows a focused three-year effort by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in collaboration with lower income countries.

Between 2014 and 2024, the prevention of cervical cancer cases and deaths across all Gavi supported countries generated over 2.3 billion dollars in economic benefits. These gains highlight the health and economic impact of sustained vaccination and awareness campaigns.

Marking the First World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day

The milestone was announced during the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, a global awareness event dedicated to accelerating the reduction of cervical cancer. It comes after a major revitalization of Gavi’s HPV vaccine program that began in 2023.

Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, described cervical cancer as a devastating yet largely preventable disease. She stressed that every two minutes, a woman dies from cervical cancer, despite the existence of a safe and highly effective vaccine.

According to her, Gavi and partner countries launched an ambitious drive in 2023 to protect 86 million girls against the leading cause of cervical cancer and prevent more than one million deaths. The target has already been reached ahead of schedule, signaling significant progress toward global elimination goals.

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The Burden on Lower Income Countries

Dr Nishtar noted that the disease hits women in lower income countries the hardest. These regions often lack screening services, early detection systems, and equitable access to lifesaving treatment. As a result, they account for 90 percent of the 350,000 cervical cancer deaths recorded in 2022.

She emphasized that the human papillomavirus vaccine, which prevents the virus responsible for most cervical cancer cases, has proven to be extremely effective. For every 1,000 children vaccinated, the vaccine averts an estimated 17.4 deaths.

When Gavi launched its HPV vaccine program in 2014, global access remained low due to limited supply, inadequate data for delivery strategies, and low awareness. The recent global push has helped reverse these challenges.

Expanding Efforts in Nigeria Through Community Outreach

In Nigeria, additional efforts are underway to reduce cancer risks among women and girls. The Northeast Development Commission and the Medical Women Association of Nigeria recently screened more than 500 women and adolescent girls for breast and cervical cancers in Bauchi State.

The outreach took place in the Dunga community in October and formed part of a wider plan to conduct screenings across all 20 local councils in the state. Speaking during a visit to Alkaleri, the President of the association’s Bauchi chapter and Consultant Gynecologist at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Dr Umma Hani Jaafaru, said the initiative aims to curb the rising burden of breast and cervical cancers.

She explained that Nigeria records over 12,000 cervical cancer cases every year, with more than 8,000 resulting in death. She added that research confirms that a woman dies every two minutes due to cervical cancer, a statistic that underscores the urgency of widespread vaccination and screening.

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Meeting Global Targets Through Community Participation

Dr Jaafaru highlighted global targets set by the World Health Organization which aim for only four cases per 100,000 women. To achieve this, 90 percent of girls aged nine to fourteen must be vaccinated against HPV, while 70 percent of women should undergo screening.

She stressed that community-based screening is a vital step toward meeting the targets, noting that education and early treatment remain essential components of cervical cancer control.

A representative of the Northeast Development Commission, Mohammed Amir Ali, affirmed the commission’s continued commitment to improving health care across the region. He explained that both breast and cervical cancers are preventable and treatable when detected early. The commission aims to reduce barriers to screening and ensure that every woman has access to timely health services.

 

 

 

 

 

Content Credit: Ohidah Oluwaferanmi

Image Credit: TheGuardian.com