Advocacy, communication, and partnerships: Mobilizing for effective, widespread cervical cancer prevention

Abstract

Both human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening/treatment are relatively simple and inexpensive to implement at all resource levels, and cervical cancer screening has been acknowledged as a "best buy" by the WHO. However, coverage with these interventions is low where they are needed most. Failure to launch or expand cervical cancer prevention programs is by and large due to the absence of dedicated funding, along with a lack of recognition of the urgent need to update policies that can hinder access to services. Clear and sustained communication, robust advocacy, and strategic partnerships are needed to inspire national governments and international bodies to action, including identifying and allocating sustainable program resources. There is significant momentum for expanding coverage of HPV vaccination and screening/preventive treatment in low-resource settings as evidenced by new global partnerships espousing this goal, and the participation of groups that previously had not focused on this critical health issue.

Incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with no evidence of disease at baseline: Results of a prospective cohort study with up to 6.4 years of follow‐up from India

“…In our study, the risk of incident CIN was more than 50 times higher in women who tested positive for HPV DNA at baseline as compared to those who were HPV negative and this necessitates urgent availability of an affordable, low‐cost HPV test so that risk stratification and earlier detection of high‐grade disease in the high‐risk population can be achieved. But until a low‐cost, affordable and feasible HPV test becomes available, cervical cancer screening using VIA and treatment of precancerous lesions is the “best buy”, because it is considered to be a highly cost‐effective use of health dollars, costing less than US$ 0.50 per capita to implement in primary‐care settings in low‐ and middle‐income countries …”

“…But until a low-cost, affordable and feasible HPV test becomes available, cervical cancer screening using VIA and treatment of precancerous lesions is the "best buy", because it is considered to be a highly cost-effective use of health dollars, costing less than US$ 0.50 per capita to implement in primary-care settings in low-and middle-income countries. 33,34 We have now reported incidence rate as well as cumulative incidence for the follow-up for up to a period of 6.4 years thus providing important information about the true risk of acquiring CIN among HIV-infected women at any given time (incidence rate) as well as an estimate of the number of women who will get CIN. It is estimated by the National AIDS Control Organization that about 2.12 million (95% CI 1.71-2.65) people were living with HIV (PLHIV) in India by the end of 2015 of which 40.5% are women.…”

Promoting Scientist–Advocate Collaborations in Cancer Research: Why and How

“…To put this into perspective, it is expected that 1,735,350 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States, and 609,640 cancer deaths will occur in 2018 (11). Advocates play a vital role in raising awareness among groups that make health and funding decisions (12). By communicating with advocates, scientists are tapping representatives of patients who are in constant touch with other patients through private, patient-only networks.…”

The investment case for cervical cancer elimination

“…Addressing these priorities requires the attention of many different partners at national and global levels. Advocacy will be critical to this effort …”