Despite Being Preventable And Curable Cervical Cancer Remains 4th Biggest Cancer In Women
Cervical cancer (cancer of the cervix) is preventable and curable, only if it is detected early and managed effectively. Yet it is the 4th most common cancer among women worldwide, with the disease occurring in 660,000 women and claiming the lives of 350,000 women in 2022 worldwide, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).
China, India, and Indonesia had the highest number of cervical cancer cases in 2022. Moreover 42% of cervical cancer cases and 39% of deaths associated with it worldwide, took place in China and India- 23% cases and 16% deaths in China, and 19% cases and 23% deaths in India. India reported over 123,000 new cases of cervical cancer and around 77,000 deaths – highest number of deaths worldwide in 2022.
Cervical cancer disproportionately affects younger women, and as a result, 20% of children who lose their mother to cancer do so due to cervical cancer, says WHO.
As cervical cancer is the only cancer that can be eliminated, the WHO Director General had called upon the governments in 2018 to eliminate it. All governments globally committed to do so by 2030 (by endorsing the global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030 at the World Health Assembly 2020). But despite some progress, the world is way off the mark from the elimination goal in 2025.
Where cervical cancer burden is greatest, access to lifesaving services is most broken
Cervical cancer reflects the global inequities between the Global North and the Global South: The highest rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality are in low- and middle-income countries. In fact, 94% of the cervical cancer deaths in 2022 took place in these countries where access to health services is appalling. This reflects major health inequities which are driven by lack of access to vaccination, cervical cancer screening and treatment services.
Prophylactic vaccination against human papilloma virus (HPV) – which is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and which causes cervical cancer – and screening, and treatment of pre-cancer lesions are very cost-effective strategies to prevent cervical cancer.
WHO's call to deliver on #HealthForAll dates to the 1970s, but even now gaping health inequities and injustices plague the health systems – especially in the Global South.
Vaccines against HPV have existed since almost 20 years now. No surprise for guessing that both Cervarix (made by Glaxo) and Gardasil (made by Merck) were made in the rich nations – and their rollout in the Global South has been far from ideal.
In 2022, India-based Serum Institute in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology of the government of India developed India's first indigenously produced HPV vaccine called Cervavac. So, now there is a vaccine developed in the Global South too. But its rollout is far from ideal as of now. It is still not a part of India's public health programme, for instance.
Same inequities block access to HPV screening in the Global South
'Almost all cervical cancers (~95%) are caused by persistent HPV infection. Women living with HIV are 6 times more likely to develop cervical cancer compared to the general population, and an estimated 5% of all cervical cancer cases are attributable to HIV,' said Dr Kuldeep Singh Sachdeva, former head of Indian government's national TB and HIV programmes. Dr Sachdeva was speaking at the National Dialogue and stakeholder meet organised by National Coalition of People living with HIV in India (NCPI Plus) bringing together over 100 community leaders from almost all states of India. Dr Sachdeva currently leads Molbio Diagnostics as President and Chief Medical Officer.
He was speaking ahead of 10th Asia-Pacific AIDS & Co-Infections Conference (APACC 2025), Japan; 2nd Asia Pacific Conference on Point of Care Diagnostics for Infectious Diseases (POC 2025), Thailand; and 13th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2025), Rwanda.
Cervical cancer screening efforts in most settings of the Global South have long been hampered by reliance on outdated methods like pap smears and visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) test, both of which suffer from poor sensitivity, high subjectivity, and dependence on specialised infrastructure. Advanced molecular HPV tests developed by the Global North, while highly accurate than pap smear and VIA, remain inaccessible for most women living in peripheral, rural, and resource-limited settings, especially of the Global South.
India's first point-of-care HPV test that can be deployed at point-of-need in the Global South
In April 2025, India's first ever indigenously developed RT-PCR molecular test for HPV on Truenat (called HPV-HR Plus) got an independent multi-centric validation done by Government of India's Department of Biotechnology, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and Grand Challenges India. Truenat HPV-HR Plus test is made by Molbio Diagnostics in India.
This independent validation of Truenat HPV-HR Plus was conducted under the study 'Validating Indigenous Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Tests for Cervical Cancer Screening in India.' The study involved leading Indian government's research institutes, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, ICMR National Institute for Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) Noida, and ICMR National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH) Mumbai, in collaboration with WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
There are over 200 genotypes of HPV but those that put the infected person at risk of developing cervical cancer are few. Truenat HPV-HR Plus molecular test enables detection for 8 HPV high-risk genotypes – which account for over 96% cervical cancer cases worldwide. These HPV high-risk genotypes include 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52 and 58. Out of these, 16 and 18 high-risk genotypes dominate globally as 77% of invasive cervical cancer cases are associated with them. These high-risk genotypes can also cause cancer of the anus, penis, vagina, vulva, and oropharynx (throat).
Raising cervical cancer awareness and health literacy among people with HIV
As women living with HIV are 6 times more at risk of cervical cancer, communities and networks of people with HIV must come forward to find ways to integrate cervical cancer screening as well as for other cancers (such as breast cancer) programmatically and in people-centred manner, said Daxa Patel, co-founder of National Coalition of People living with HIV in India (NCPI Plus) and its former President.
Agrees Pooja Mishra, Secretary of NCPI Plus that it is unacceptable when cervical cancer, which is preventable and curable – and the only cancer which can be eliminated – still kills 350,000 women worldwide. We also need to raise awareness, health and treatment literacy among the young people, said Mishra.
That is why NCPI Plus took leadership in organising a national dialogue and stakeholder consultation on preventing cancers among people with HIV, especially women.
Truenat HPV-HR Plus test is critical for closing the screening gap, particularly for asymptomatic women and women who are at higher risk for persistent HPV infection. By shifting HPV screening closer to the most-at-risk people and communities, this test ensures early detection, better triaging, and timely treatment – especially in historically underserved populations.
Over 10,000 Truenat RT-PCR molecular test machines are already deployed globally in over 85 countries (mostly for TB), and mostly in the Global South nations in remote settings. Truenat is a battery operated (with solar power charging), laboratory independent, de-centralised and point-of-care test that provides highly accurate diagnosis for over 30 diseases (including TB, HPV, HCV, HBV, STIs, COVID-19, etc) within an hour – thus enabling same day test and treat, counselling and follow-up.
Superiority of Truenat HPV-HR Plus test
Older Pap smear test detects precancerous or cancerous cervical cancer cells whereas Truenat HPV-HR Plus test detects the presence of high-risk HPV DNA (8 genotypes).
Pap smear is a cytological screening test and depends on the observing medical expert's skill and slide quality, whereas Truenat is a PCR-based nuclear acid amplification test with very high sensitivity and specificity.
False negative reports are higher and false positive reports are also moderate when pap smear is used whereas both are low with Truenat HPV-HR Plus. The most recent validation of Truenat HPV-HR Plus showed 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity.
Truenat HPV-HR is designed to work with cervical swab samples collected by a clinician (self-collection of samples is still under evaluation), and it gives highly accurate results in just 60 minutes. Whereas, a pap smear results may take 3-7 days as these are laboratory dependent.
Easy to use and with high stability at room temperature, Truenat HPV-HR Plus requires minimal biosafety and is optimised for use at both the laboratory and near-patient settings. This test overcomes shortcomings of current diagnostic methods, including variable sensitivity and specificity, high costs, complex workflows, and dependence on advanced equipment, said Dr Sachdeva.
Highlighting the importance of developing health technologies in the Global South, Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India said, 'Truenat HPV-HR Plus represents the kind of diagnostic innovation we need – dependable, scientifically rigorous, locally developed, and built to serve our public health system. It is a huge step forward in strengthening cervical cancer screening across India.'
'HPV infection is common. However, persistence of HPV infection could be deadly. Studies show that nearly half of persistent HPV infections do not resolve by 24 months. These silent carriers drive the progression to high-grade pre-cancerous lesions and cancer. That's why extended HPV genotype detection is crucial,' shared Dr Sachdeva.
HPV also causes oropharyngeal cancers
Oropharyngeal cancers related to HPV vary from 28% to 68% in the richer nations. Indian studies also show alarming numbers though, more research is needed for science-informed responses towards eliminating HPV related cancers in our population, said Dr Ishwar Gilada, President Emeritus of AIDS Society of India (ASI) and Governing Council member of International AIDS Society (IAS).
'While there is increasing evidence of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer in both men and women globally, there still remain gaps in gender-neutral HPV vaccination policies globally,' said Dr Sachdeva.
Community leaders like Manoj Pardeshi, who is among the co-founders and inspiring lights of NCPI Plus, said that regardless of gender, all those eligible and at risk of HPV related cancers, must be vaccinated against HPV. Programme addressing cervical cancer elimination should expand to eliminate all HPV related cancers in people-centred ways, regardless of gender.
HPV is transmitted through:
– Sexual contact: Transmission mode is through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person.
– Skin-to-skin contact: Transmitted through non-penetrative sexual activities involving skin-to-skin contact.
The WHO Guidelines recommend HPV detection via molecular test after age of 30 (and every 5 years thereafter). Vaccination against HPV is highly recommended for younger people under the age of 15 or before the initiation of sexual activity.
Do not leave equity behind
'Truenat HPV-HR Plus test is about equity in detection. By expanding beyond traditional targets, we reach the genotypes that matter more in our populations for cervical cancer elimination. This means earlier intervention, fewer missed cases, and better outcomes,' said Dr Sachdeva. Truenat HPV-HR Plus offers the best of both worlds – critical genotype coverage and real-world deploy-ability.
What does it mean to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030?
To eliminate cervical cancer, all countries must reach and maintain an incidence rate of below 4 per 100,000 women. Achieving that goal rests on three key pillars and their corresponding targets:
vaccination: 90% of all eligible young people must be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15.
screening: 70% of women should be screened using a high-performance test by the age of 35, and again by the age of 45;
treatment: 90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed.
No other cancer but cervical cancer is fully preventable and curable if detected and managed early. Even one death from it is a death too many.
Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024). She also coordinates SHE & Rights initiative (Sexual health with equity & rights). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here www.bit.ly/ShobhaShukla)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
As Latin America's Health Pays Price Of Climate Crisis, Wealthy Countries Must Deliver Climate Justice
Brasilia, 29 July 2025:- As the 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health opens, more than 50 Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) health organisations today called on governments to stop fueling the climate crisis, and or wealthy countries take the lead on cutting climate warming emissions, provide comprehensive and fair finance to prevent and repair health damages and deepening inequalities in the LAC region, and to end exploitive resource extraction in the region. The conference, co-hosted by the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization and the government of Brazil, is an official event in the lead up to the COP30 UN climate negotiations, which Brazil will host in November. In their Common Position of Latin America and the Caribbean on Climate Change and Health, which will be launched at the conference on July 31, the 50 signatory health organisations note the relevance of the COP30 Presidency's Belem Health Action Plan, which focuses on adapting health systems to be resilient in the face of climate impacts. They add, however, that 'it is crucial that the plan situate adaptation within the broader context of climate action, recognizing the limits of adaptation and the circumstances of health systems, especially in developing countries, where the lack of effective mitigation will quickly lead to the exhaustion of response capacity, severely impacting public health in Latin America and the Caribbean.' Calling climate change not just an environmental issue, 'but also…a major ethical and political challenge' - the Common Position makes clear that action is needed across sectors, and that action to address the drivers of climate change, including through a just transition to clean energy, and restoration of ecosystems, will bring positive benefits to people's health. The Common Position was spearheaded by the Latin America and Caribbean Network on Climate and Health, which is convened by the Global Climate and Health Alliance. 'As he prepares to lead the COP30 negotiations in November, COP30 President Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago must emphasize to participating governments that while making health systems more resilient is essential, protecting health goes far beyond just adapting our health systems', said Jeni Miller, Executive Director of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, which brings together over 200 health professionals and health civil society organisations and networks to address climate change. 'Health must be addressed as a cross-cutting priority - through emission reductions, just transitions in key sectors, reforming harmful development models, and strategic finance. Brazil must ensure that across all pillars of climate action, COP30 delivers ambitious commitments that protect people's health.' "At COP30, to prevent human suffering, and avoid overwhelming our health systems, , governments around the world must act across sectors such as agriculture, water and sanitation, housing, transport, and energy, and must address the primary driver of climate change by phasing out fossil fuels - doing so fairly and in ways that do not create new health harms', said Miller. 'As the impacts of climate change accelerate across Latin America and the Caribbean, the health of millions of people is already being compromised, health systems are coming under unprecedented strain, and economies face severe risk', said Milena Sergeeva, Liaison Officer for Latin America for the Global Climate and Health Alliance,. 'A 2024 dengue outbreak in the Americas affected 12.6 million people. Two-thirds of health facilities in the region are in high climate-risk zones. In the Caribbean, over 250% of a country's GDP can be wiped out in one day by a severe hurricane. As these impacts result from a climate crisis overwhelmingly created by high income developed countries, wealthy countries must provide support to countries in the LAC region, in the form of financing, open access to data, and technology transfer, so that LAC countries have the means to respond.' The fifty organisations from across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) that have developed the Common Position joined forces in the spirit of a mutirão (collective effort) - to bring forward their diverse perspectives into a joint call to action. The Common Position will be launched on July 31 at the climate and health conference, in Idea Labs session 3, from 14:30-15:00. 'Increasing climate ambition in Latin America and the Caribbean can be a great opportunity to reduce inequalities that have existed for more than 500 years in the region, which are structural determinants of health', said Francisco Chesini from the Iberomerican Society for Environmental Health, one of the Common Position signatory organizations. 'At a critical moment of global climate crisis, Latin America and the Caribbean are speaking out, identifying threats to health, their highly diverse environmental conditions, and notorious social inequalities, and presenting proposals to address them', said Christovam Barcellos, Head Researcher at the Laboratory of Health Information, Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministry of Health - Brasil. "As young health advocates in Latin America and the Caribbean, we are witnessing how climate change is deepening historical health inequities', said Marcelo Manturano, Regional Director for the Americas at the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations, a signatory organization. 'From our position at IFMSA, we are committed to intergenerational, inclusive, and justice-based action, because a healthy planet is not only a right, but a condition for the health and dignity of our peoples." "Air pollution and climate change are an atmospheric combination that is undermining our life on the planet. Inaction is no longer an option. Science-based collaboration will make the difference." said Selene Martínez Guajardo, Executive Director of the Citizen Observatory of Air Quality of the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (OCCAMM), a signatory organization. "The Chilean Society of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition (SOCHIMENUP) is committed to maintaining and strengthening collaboration with its South American peers', said Dr. Francisca Soto-Aguilar Bralic, President of the Chilean Society of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition (SOCHIMENUP), a signatory organization. 'Our motivation is clear, and our vision is shared: to use scientific knowledge in health and nutrition as a fundamental tool for building a more resilient and healthy future in the face of the challenges of climate change." 'We believe that protecting the climate means protecting the health of all people, which is why we are committed to promoting comprehensive, evidence-based actions to address the impacts of climate change on the health of Ecuadorians and ensure a more just, healthy, and resilient future', said Dr. Francisco Rosero, Coordinator of the International Relations Commission and General Coordinator of Commissions, at the Ecuadorian Society of Public Health, a signatory organization. In addition to providing recommendations for governments in the region, the health organisations also call on the international community to: Ensure that transitions to a fossil-fuel-free economy are fair and healthy, protecting health and human rights in the face of the growing global demand for critical minerals and agricultural products affecting the region. Place adaptation in the broader context of climate action in the Belém Health Action Plan. Increase international support to strengthen regional capacities in health and climate change, facilitating the transfer of technologies, financial resources, and open data for the generation of scientific evidence and institutional strengthening in the region. Implement strict international measures to limit the undue influence of polluting industries in international climate negotiations. Ensure that climate finance mechanisms prioritize projects that protect health.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel says opening aid routes
Two Jordanian and one Emirati plane on dropped 25 tonnes of humanitarian aid over the Gaza Strip, Jordanian state television reported on 27 July. Israel also parachuted food aid, and trucks of flour were seen arriving in northern Gaza through a crossing from Israel, according to AFP journalists. Photo: AFP / Bashar Taleb Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza as Israel began a limited "tactical pause" in some military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis. The Palestinian territory is gripped by dire humanitarian conditions created by 21 months of war and made worse by Israel's total blockade of aid from March to May. Since the easing of the blockade, the levels of aid reaching Gaza have been far below what aid groups say is needed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his government was not to blame for the dire situation and lashed out at the UN. The Israeli military dismissed allegations that it had been using starvation as a weapon, saying it had coordinated with the UN and international agencies to "increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip". A Palestinian boy reacts as he carries a bag of flour in the al-Mawasi camp in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, that was picked up from the Rafah corridor on 27 July 2025. Photo: AFP The World Health Organisation warned on Sunday that malnutrition was reaching "alarming levels" in Gaza. It said that of the 74 recorded malnutrition-related deaths in 2025, 63 had occurred in July -- including 24 children aged under five, one child older than five, and 38 adults. "Most of these people were declared dead on arrival at health facilities or died shortly after, their bodies showing clear signs of severe wasting," the UN health agency said. "The crisis remains entirely preventable. Deliberate blocking and delay of large-scale food, health and humanitarian aid has cost many lives." The UN's World Food Programme said a third of the population of Gaza had not eaten for days, and 470,000 were "enduring famine-like conditions". UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed Israel's tactical pauses, saying his teams "will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window". People walk with sacks of flour delivered after trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered northern Gaza on 27 July, 2025 coming from the Zikim border crossing. Photo: AFP / Bashar Taleb The Israeli decision came as international pressure mounted on Netanyahu to prevent mass starvation in the territory. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the chorus of concern on Sunday, urging the Israeli premier "to provide the starving civilian population in Gaza with urgently needed humanitarian aid now". Accusing the UN of fabricating "pretexts and lies about Israel" blocking aid, Netanyahu said in remarks at an airbase that "there are secure routes" for aid. "There have always been, but today it's official. There will be no more excuses," he added. The situation inside the territory deteriorated sharply after Israel imposed its total blockade on aid in March. It later eased the blockade, but sidelined the UN and major aid agencies and instead relied on a newly created, US-backed private foundation. Aid groups refused to work with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, accusing it of furthering Israel's military goals, while hundreds of people have been killed attempting to reach its sites. The Jordanian military said its planes, working with the United Arab Emirates, had delivered 25 tonnes of aid in three parachute drops over Gaza on Sunday. The Israeli military also said it had conducted a drop, parachuting seven pallets of aid into the territory. Truckloads of flour were also seen arriving in northern Gaza through the Zikim area crossing from Israel, according to AFP journalists. AFP correspondents also saw trucks crossing from Egypt, heading for Israeli inspection before entering Gaza. The charity Oxfam's regional policy chief Bushra Khalidi called Israel's latest moves a "welcome first step" but warned they were insufficient. "Starvation won't be solved by a few trucks or airdrops," she said. "What's needed is a real humanitarian response: ceasefire, full access, all crossings open and a steady, large-scale flow of aid into Gaza. "We need a permanent ceasefire, a complete lifting of the siege." In general, humanitarian officials are deeply sceptical that airdrops can deliver enough food safely to tackle the hunger crisis facing Gaza's more than two million inhabitants. Gazans watch as a military plane flies over during an aid drop in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP / Bashar Taleb In Gaza City's Tel el-Hawa district, 30-year-old Suad Ishtaywi said her "life's wish" was simply to feed her children. She spoke of her husband returning empty-handed from each day from aid points. There were chaotic scenes at the site where Israel conducted its first food drop, witnesses told AFP. Samih Humeid, a 23-year-old from the Al-Karama neighbourhood of Gaza City, said dozens of people had gathered to rush towards the parachuted supplies. "It felt like a war, everyone trying to grab whatever they could. Hunger is merciless. The quantities were extremely limited, not enough even for a few people, because hunger is everywhere. I only managed to get three cans of fava beans," he said. The Israeli army's daily pause from 10am to 8pm will be limited to areas where its troops are not currently operating -- Al-Mawasi in the south, Deir el-Balah in the centre and Gaza City in the north. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, citing "reasonable grounds" to suspect war crimes including starvation - charges Israel vehemently denies. On Sunday, according to the Gaza civil defence agency, Israeli army fire killed 27 Palestinians, 12 of them near aid distribution areas. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. The Israeli campaign has killed 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. - AFP
RNZ News
6 days ago
- RNZ News
WHO's Covid-19 special envoy David Nabarro dies at 75
By Harshita Meenaktshi , Reuters Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP David Nabarro, the World Health Organization's special envoy for Covid-19 since the early stages of the outbreak in 2020, has died at the age of 75, the WHO said on Saturday. "David was a great champion of global health and health equity, and a wise, generous mentor to countless individuals," World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said of the Briton in a post on X. Deeply shocked and saddened by the passing of our dear friend, colleague and @WHO Envoy David Nabarro. David was a great champion of global health and health equity, and a wise, generous mentor to countless individuals. His work touched and impacted so many lives across the… Nabarro was also co-director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College in London. At the height of the pandemic in 2021 Nabarro called for more global cooperation and aid to poorer countries during a health crisis he said was "nothing like anything else we've ever seen in my professional life". In 2017, he was a candidate for WHO director-general, finishing second to Tedros in the election. - Reuters
