The Government of South Africa, Unitaid and the World Health Organization (WHO) called on countries to scale up cervical cancer interventions and progress against the only noncommunicable disease that can be eliminated, at the G20 Health Working Group meeting currently taking place in Zimbali, outside Durban.
Cervical cancer is preventable and curable, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. Yet it is the 4th most common form of cancer among women worldwide. According to WHO, the disease claimed the lives of almost 350 000 women in 2022.
New vaccines, tests, and treatment devices have transformed cervical cancer prevention in recent years, yet the disease continues to disproportionately impact women, mostly in low- and middle-income countries where access to primary health care and simple preventive services is limited. Cervical cancer elimination would address a major gap in women’s health.
South Africa’s G20 health agenda emphasizes the need for equitable multilateral solutions to address the health challenges of the 21st century through universal health coverage.
“Global efforts to combat cervical cancer serve as a concrete illustration of how cooperation can advance women’s health and realize a shared goal to bring about the first-ever elimination of a cancer,” said Dr SSS Buthelezi, the Department of Health’s Director-General. “Improving women’s health isn’t just a health issue – it’s an economic imperative. It drives social stability, boosts productivity, and breaks the cycle of poverty.”
In 2020, WHO launched the Global strategy for cervical cancer elimination, the first-ever road map for the elimination of a cancer. Since then, countries have made enormous strides in rolling out new tools and services. Vaccination against HPV provides protection against the HPV infection that causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer. And a package of screening and treatment tools – including HPV tests with self-collected samples and devices for quickly and easily removing pre-cancerous cells – make it possible to make lifesaving services available to at-risk women at lower levels of the health care system.
“Unitaid has invested US $81 million (R1.4 billion) to bring down prices, increase volumes and address operational questions involved in cervical cancer screening and treatment so countries can scale up proven interventions with minimal risk,” said Tenu Avafia, Unitaid’s Deputy Executive Director, speaking on the sidelines of the G20 health meetings in South Africa. “However, funding shortfalls still pose enormous challenges to sustainable national cervical cancer elimination programs in low- and middle-income countries.”
The health working group session called for a coordinated approach drawing on domestic resource mobilization, blended financing, and partnerships with multilateral development banks to scale these solutions, ensure long-term sustainability and reduce dependency on external aid.
“We have the tools and the strategies to make cervical cancer elimination a reality,” said Ms Shenaaz El-Halabi, newly appointed World Health Organization Country Director in South Africa. “We are pleased to see countries and partners coming together to develop new ways to build sustainable health responses in a rapidly changing world.”
South Africa is committed to scaling up cervical cancer prevention programs nationwide, with support from Unitaid, WHO and other partners. The South African G20 health agenda promotes solidarity, equality and sustainability. It complements the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the development agenda of Africa as the world’s fastest-growing continent, and the Lusaka Agenda. It also focuses on rebuilding momentum to reach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
About Unitad
Unitaid saves lives by making new health products available and affordable for people in low- and middle-income countries. Unitaid works with partners to identify innovative treatments, tests and tools; helps tackle the market barriers that are holding them back; and gets them to the people who need them most – fast. Since it was created in 2006, Unitaid has unlocked access to more than 100 groundbreaking health products to help address the world’s greatest health challenges, including HIV, TB and malaria; women’s and children’s health; and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Every year, these products benefit more than 300 million people. Unitaid is a hosted partnership of the World Health Organization.
