HPV causes abnormal cells to develop on the cervix, which can eventually progress to cancer. But if they are detected and treated early, most of these cancers are preventable. HPV tests are the most accurate way to identify a woman at risk of developing cervical cancer. They provide a high-performance alternative to visual inspection of the cervix, a subjective method which fails to identify many women at risk. Additionally, because HPV tests require an easy-to-obtain sample, women can perform their own vaginal swab, foregoing the pelvic examination and making testing feasible at lower levels of the health system.

Together with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), we secured agreements to reduce the price of HPV tests by nearly 40% in low- and middle-income countries. Meanwhile, our cervical cancer programs are demonstrating life-saving cervical cancer prevention models that provide the blueprint for countries to scale up programs in resource-limited settings. These models integrate a package of preventive care – HPV tests, self-collection methods and portable devices for treating pre-cancerous lesions – into existing health services.