The Commonwealth carries a significant cervical cancer burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Whilst the Commonwealth represents 30 per cent of the world’s population, it carries a 40 per cent share of the global cancer incidence burden, and 43 per cent of the global mortality burden.
If steps are not taken to radically reduce the rising incidence of cervical cancer within the Commonwealth by 2030, the Commonwealth can expect the number of new cases of cervical cancer to have risen by 55 per cent (to 324,598) and deaths by 62 per cent (to 186,066 deaths) over the same period, with one woman dying in every three minutes by 2030.
In 2021 Commonwealth Health Ministers committed to ensuring that all girls aged between 9-13 years will have access to immunity from human papillomavirus (HPV) infection through vaccination by 2025. This landmark commitment was further strengthened this year at CHOGM 2022 where Heads of Government supported this target.
On Thursday, 17 November 2022, the Commonwealth Secretariat will host a high-level event bringing together member countries, multilateral and civil society organisations, cancer survivors and other key stakeholders to raise awareness of the current burden of cervical cancer in the Commonwealth and understand key challenges that are preventing progress.
This event is part of the London Global Cancer Week (2022) and takes place nearly six months after CHOGM 2022, providing an important opportunity to discuss strategies and recommendations for the next steps towards achieving cervical cancer elimination in the Commonwealth by 2025.
Register below to attend the virtual event.
**Attendance at the in-person event at Marlborough House is by invitation only. For further information, please e-mail the Health Team.
Media contact
- Angela Kolongo Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
- T: +44 7587 881503 | E-mail
