TogetHER for Health Releases Fourth Annual Report on Cervical Cancer Prevention Funding in Low- and Lower Middle-Income Countries

17 November, 2022

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.

Better data on current investments in cervical cancer programs in low-income countries (LICs) and lower middle-income countries (LMICs) can inform decision-makers and provide a basis for advocacy for increased financial and political support. TogetHER’s newest summary of this funding – Investing in Global Cervical Cancer Prevention: Resources for Low-Income and Lower Middle-Income Countries in 2021 – highlights investments in HPV immunization and cervical cancer screening and treatment in low-resource settings from 2018 through 2021. Read the new report!

This year, TogetHER has also compiled slides and graphics for use by advocates and other stakeholders in making the case for investment in cervical cancer elimination.

Highlights: 

  • Estimated funding for HPV vaccination in LICs and LMICs in 2021 totaled $94.7 million, a large increase of 31.7% over 2020. Higher investment was seen in almost every funder category, led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance’s $22 million increase between 2020 and 2021
  • The $94.7 million total for 2021 is over 60% higher than the $59.0 million three-year funding average for HPV vaccination in LICs/LMICs from 2018 to 2020.
  • Total funding for cervical cancer screening and preventive treatment in LICs and LMICs is estimated at $66.6 million for 2021, an increase of 49.2% from 2020.  Higher funding levels are due heavily to a major uptick in funding for the Go Further program providing screening and treatment for women living with HIV in countries served by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, as well as a large increase in support from Unitaid.
  • Funding for cervical cancer screening and treatment in LICs/LMICs in 2021 was 61.2% above the $41.3 million three-year funding average from 2018 to 2020.
  • The current pace of funding for cervical cancer prevention in LICs and LMICs represents only around 15% of the projected $1.5 billion total needed to achieve cervical cancer elimination.