WHO asks for unit and mobilization to end the cervical cancer |UN news

The General Director of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, joined appeals, first ladies, cancer survivors and health and community organizations to raise awareness and mobilize efforts in the fight against neck of neckutero, a year after the agency launched a historic world initiative on the elimination of the disease.

"We have the tools"

All of them highlighted the inequalities in access to tools and treatments that can save lives, as is happening with the Covid-19 pandemic, but also highlighted the new advances in prevention and treatment.

"Cervical cancer causes immense suffering, but it is almost completely preventable and, if diagnosed in time, it is one of the cancers that can be treated more successfully," Tedros said.

The head of the WHO added that "we have the tools for cervical cancer.Together with the members of the WHO initiative for the elimination of cervical cancer, that's what we intend to do."

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer type among women, and almost all cases are linked to human papillomavirus infection (HPV), a high -risk virus, very common and transmitted by sexual contact by sexual contact.

Organización Panamericana de la SaludLos exámenes periódicos son fundamentales para poner fin al cáncer cervicouterino.

Disparity in access

The UN Health Agency notes that women and adolescents in the poorest countries are deprived of detection services, vaccines against papillomavirus and treatments "that those of prosperous places take for granted".Although the risk of contracting the disease is multiplied by six among women living with this virus, many do not have access to vaccination or detection tests.

In addition, manufacturers have oriented their offer towards the richest nations.Last year, only 13% of girls between nine and fourteen years old worldwide were vaccinated against papillomavirus, while about 80 countries, which represent about two thirds of the world -cervical cancer world load, they have not yet implemented vaccination.

As with the Covid-19 pandemic, the disparity in mortality rates is enormous: nine out of ten cases of cervical cancer occur in low and medium income countries.

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The good work of governments

The organization praised countries that have taken measures to deal with cervical cancer during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also highlighted the work of other nations to equip their health workers with new portable devices to thermally remove pre-cancer cells predictors, a process that uses heat for extra tissues destroyed, or by expanding the use of sampling to detectcervical abnormalities.

This last process allows women to collect their own sample, which can reduce stigma and facilitate access to those who live far from health centers.These specimens can be analyzed in the same laboratories that are used for polymerase chain reaction tests (PCR) for the detection of COVID-19, said WHO.

Printing during pandemic

The agency specialized in health issues also highlighted the setbacks suffered during the pandemic, since access to examination services has decreased.According to a recent survey conducted in 155 countries, 43% reported the existence of cancer treatment disorders.Vaccination rates against human papillomavirus worldwide have also decreased, from 15% in 2019 to 13% last year.

"There has been important progress towards the elimination of cervical cancer even during this year unprecedented," said Princess Nono Simelela, a special advisor to the general director of the Health Agency on strategic priorities, including theUterine cancer elimination.

SIMELELA ALADIÓN that "although we have seen great advances in new technologies and research, the next decisive step ensure that these are designed for low and medium income countries and are accessible to these, and that the health and rights of womenAnd girls around the world are a priority in the recovery of COVID-19."

© UNICEF/UN0261446/RusanganwaEstas dos niñas acaban de recibir la vacuna contra el papiloma humano en su escuela primaria de Masaka (Ruanda).

Looking at the future

WHO has focused on the new advances in the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer, such as the prequalification of a fourth vaccine against papillomavirus, which is expected to increase and diversify the supply of vaccines

New recommendations have also been published to guide research on detection technologies based on artificial intelligence, which will help guarantee the early detection of pre-cancer cells.

The agency has also announced the designation of the first WHO collaborating center for the elimination of cervical cancer, located at the University of Miami (United States), which will be crucial for research and technical assistance.

The mobilization day is celebrated with a large world event organized by the WHO headquarters in Geneva, and will have actions and testimonies of cancer survivors and artists such as the Angélique Kidjo singer.

About 100 world monuments, including the Temple of the Heaven of Beijing (China) and the Niagara cataracts (Canada), will light blue green, the color of the elimination of cervical cancer, to commemorate the day.