Cervical Cancer Prevention Funding Remains Insufficient
22 September 2019 – TogetHER has published a new policy brief highlighting the shortfall in current resources for cervical cancer prevention. “Effective, low-cost tools to prevent and treat cervical cancer are available today, with new tools to save even more women just steps from being deployed. Despite this, resources for cervical cancer prevention, screening, and treatment remain insufficient to change the trajectory of this global epidemic,” the publication warns.
TogetHER found that 2018 funding for vaccination against HPV – the virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer – in low-income and lower middle-income countries totaled an estimated $US 45.9 million. For the same countries, the estimated total funding for cervical cancer screening and treatment was $20.4 million. Unless funding is increased dramatically, the available resources will fall far short of the estimated $3 billion over ten years needed to scale up these two cervical cancer prevention tools to the point that the disease can be eliminated.
TogetHER’s snapshot of current cervical cancer prevention resources provides a basis for advocates and decision-makers to increase financial and political support. The brief contains recommendations to funders, governments in low- and middle-income countries, vaccine suppliers, implementing organizations, and others for meeting the global need for cervical cancer prevention resources.
Byline: Jennie Aylward