For the last two years we have been working, across our Federations worldwide, to raise awareness of the ways we can bring cervical cancer to an end.
Soroptimists work to five charitable objects and health is a critical one. We know that women’s health issues are not prioritised sufficiently and ill health can disproportionately affect women because it impacts on their caring roles, their reproductive health and of course impacts on their ability to take their place in the workforce.
While all health concerns are important under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-Being, we have turned our attention to cervical cancer because it is one of the most preventable cancers, yet it remains a significant health threat to women worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with hundreds of thousands of new cases diagnosed annually. However, with proper screening and vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV)—the primary cause of cervical cancer—this disease can largely be prevented.
The disease is often slow growing, meaning early detection through screening and vaccine prevention can save lives. Unfortunately, lack of awareness, access to healthcare, and misinformation about HPV contribute to lower screening and vaccination rates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
The Role of Screening in Early Detection
Screening plays a crucial role in detecting cervical cancer in its early or pre-cancerous stages and healthcare professionals recommend that women start screening from age 25 to 30, depending on national guidelines. Regular screening, often every three to five years, has significantly reduced cervical cancer deaths in countries with effective screening programmes.
The problem is that despite their proven effectiveness, many women do not receive regular screening either due to lack of awareness, limited healthcare access, and cultural stigma. Even in countries like the UK, where access is easier, some women remain embarrassed or nervous about having a ‘smear test’.
As Soroptimists, we try to bring a mix of practical and advocacy recommendations to increase the take-up of screening. We work closely with women’s refuges and other community groups to accompany women who, for whatever reason, may feel vulnerable about attending their appointments or GP practices. We work closely in our local communities, often with relevant partners and campaign groups, to educate women and girls about the benefits of screening and vaccination, to reduce the stigma and encourage take up.
HPV Vaccination: A Powerful Preventive Tool
Soroptimists on the road to eradicating cervical cancerThe Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is one of the most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer. It protects against the most dangerous HPV strains, including HPV 16 and 18, which cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. HPV is a common virus that spreads through skin contact (usually when having sex) and most types are harmless. However, some types are linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, including cervical cancer most commonly, but also other cancers such as of the mouth, anus and penis which is why it is recommended that boys are vaccinated too.
As part of our advocacy work, we try to bring campaigning groups and governments together, to work closely to increase access to vaccination, especially in underserved regions, and ensure the support needed for healthcare professionals to discuss HPV protection with patients. We also encourage education and awareness of both girls and boys, most recently and successfully with a graphic novel, developed by our Soroptimist club members in Trinidad and Tobago. This colourful and creative comic book, aimed at teenage boys and girls, helps them weigh up the potential dangers against the benefits of being immunised.
A Future Without Cervical Cancer
The WHO has set a global goal to eliminate cervical cancer through HPV vaccination, screening, and timely treatment, set out in their Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer. To reach the goal, 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 girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15
- Screening: 70% of women 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.
The target is for each country to reach the 90–70–90 targets by 2030 to get on the path to eliminate cervical cancer within the next century. It is a stretch target but entirely achievable and one that Soroptimists worldwide continue to strive for. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organisation has stated that “through cost-effective, evidence-based interventions, including human papillomavirus vaccination of girls, screening and treatment of precancerous lesions, and improving access to diagnosis and treatment of invasive cancers, we can eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem and make it a disease of the past”.
Help us to help the WHO achieve this target by raising awareness and informing the young people in your own families and communities. And by joining Soroptimists in our campaigns. Read more here: https://sigbi.org/what-we-do/our-work/health/cervicalcancer/