Today (17 November) marks 2 years since the world committed to eliminate cervical cancer.

In 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer by 2030. To eliminate cancer of the cervix as a public health problem, the Global Strategy set the threshold for all countries to reach an incidence rate of less than four cases per 100,000 women. To accomplish this, every State must reach and maintain three key targets, within the lifetime of today’s young generation:

• The first is for 90 per cent of girls to be fully vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) by the age of 15.
• The second is to ensure that 70 per cent of women are screened using a high-performance test by the age of 35, and again by age 45.
• The final target is for 90 per cent of women with pre-cancer to receive treatment and for 90 percent of women with invasive cancer to have their condition properly managed.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, about 160 women develop cervical cancer each year – and about 50 die from it. Regular cervical screening can reduce a women’s risk of developing cancer by 90 percent.

Find out more about Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action.  

DID YOU KNOW?

• Every month around 890 cervical screens are taken at a Family Planning clinic
• Family Planning provides training courses and refresher courses for nurses wanting to be screen takers
• You can book a cervical screen online by filling in an Ask for an Appointment form.