A global milestone: Why a world cervical cancer elimination day matters

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) took a bold step: launching the first-ever global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.

This milestone was the culmination of advocacy and scientific progress, driven by women’s health champions, public health leaders and global partners who recognized that cervical cancer is one of the few cancers we can eliminate, from primary prevention with HPV vaccination to secondary prevention with high-performance screening and early treatment all possible.

Under the leadership of WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the 2020 strategy set out a roadmap with measurable targets for 2030:

Since its launch, many countries have joined the call: Australia aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035, Sweden by 2027, Rwanda by 2027 and others – England, Ireland, Denmark and Greece – have followed with commitments or modelling projections.

But the critical question remains: how do we accelerate progress in high-burden settings?

The global strategy was launched on 17 November and the day has organically become a moment of reflection, education, advocacy and renewed political commitment.

In 2025, 17 WHO member states, including Armenia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Lesotho, Nigeria, the Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia, are calling on the World Health Assembly (WHA) to formally designate 17 November as World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.

If adopted, this designation would help prioritize cervical cancer politically and on the public health agenda, ensuring no woman or person with a cervix dies from a preventable disease.

Progress has been steady but uneven. Australia is on track to eliminate cervical cancer within a decade. Rwanda is among the first African nations to introduce national HPV vaccination and scale screening and treatment services. Greece’s modelling shows that accelerating HPV vaccination and adopting HPV DNA-based screening could help it meet elimination thresholds by 2047.

Innovation has helped move the needle – new HPV vaccines provide broader protection against high-risk strains and self-collection for HPV testing is expanding access to women and people with a cervix who may not otherwise seek care due to stigma, geographic barriers or challenges within the health system.

“Having lived through cervical cancer, I know what’s at stake,” said Dr Aisha Mustapha, a cervical cancer survivor and senior lecturer and consultant at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

“Proposing 17 November as World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day is a beacon of hope for millions, an affirmation of our shared commitment to prevention, treatment and advocacy, so fewer women have to face this preventable disease.

“As a survivor, advocate and gynecologic oncologist, I’m committed to working across communities to raise awareness, expand access and protect future generations.”

Still, the world is off track to meet 90-70-90 targets by 2030. Women living with HIV face a sixfold higher risk of cervical cancer but remain underserved. Many high-burden countries lack adequate screening programmes and timely access to treatment. HPV vaccination coverage remains below target in many regions for the target age range.

Cost-effective strategies, such as integrating cervical cancer screening into HIV programmes, expanding self-collection and forming public-private partnerships for diagnostics remain underutilized. Public awareness and demand for services are often low.

“Antigua and Barbuda’s journey is a powerful testament to what is possible when strong political will, sustained investment and international collaboration converge. As the first country in the Americas to adopt HPV testing in alignment with Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) guidance, we have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of evidence-based action.

“We stand in solidarity with our Caribbean neighbours, striving for a future where no woman is left behind.” Dr Cherie Tulloch, The Cervical Cancer Elimination Programme lead at Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Health.

A World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day would allow us to rally political will and public attention annually. Just as World Polio Day and World AIDS Day have maintained focus and funding, this observance could anchor cervical cancer on the global health agenda.

“I started Cervivor, Inc. 20 years ago to support those affected by cervical cancer, hoping one day it wouldn’t be needed but too many communities are still suffering and dying from this preventable disease.

“A global day of recognition would send a powerful message: Awareness isn’t enough, the time for education, action and elimination is now,” said cervical cancer survivor and Cervivor founder Tamika Felder.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day has encouraged countries to incorporate UHC in national health plans. A similar observance could prompt governments to integrate cervical cancer services such as vaccination, screening and treatment into UHC benefit packages, social insurance schemes and private insurance models.

An annual day offers a checkpoint to assess progress, share innovations and identify necessary course corrections. Like World AIDS Day, it can become a platform to highlight successes, recognize shortcomings and address urgent needs.

Global health days bring together governments, funders, the private sector, civil society and people with lived experiences toward a shared goal – a multisectoral partnership needed to accelerate collective action.

Dr Heather White, executive director at TogetHER for Health, said: “WHO’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan offers a blueprint to end this cancer, a first in human history. The plan must be accompanied by action.

“We must hold leaders accountable to their commitments to ensure affordable and equitable access to HPV vaccination, effective screening and timely treatment for girls and women worldwide.”

Establishing World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day is a crucial step following the 2020 resolution to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem, WHA73.2.

It reinforces that elimination is urgent and achievable and strengthens our collective responsibility, reaching in particular the underserved, such as those living with HIV and in high-burden countries.

It also brings visibility to innovations such as self-collection that offer women flexibility, choice and participation in their health. It underscores the importance of cost-effective, scalable solutions and reminds us that increasing awareness, access to information and strengthening health systems are vital for progress.

The WHA proposal for 17 November to be recognized annually coincides with the global strategy’s fifth anniversary; but more than symbolic, World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day can catalyse accountability, innovation and progress. We can eliminate one type of cancer and do it now.