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An Executive Summary of this report is now available. Click here to access. Can Pooled Procurement Mechanisms Get Us Closer to Cervical Cancer Elimination? September 26, 2024 Cervical cancer elimination is an achievable goal that hinges on getting women access to proven prevention interventions: HPV vaccination, high-performance screening, and timely treatment. But access itself depends heavily on the affordability and the availability of these interventions in a region. Molecular diagnostics for HPV have proven to be far more accurate than more widespread visual methods such as cytology and visual inspection with acetic acid, while also requiring less frequent screening and…
More...1 August, 2024 Each time TogetHER for Health launches a Request for Proposals under our Cervical Cancer Grants Program, we are inspired by the breadth and quality of the programs seeking to improve their capacity to provide access to cervical cancer prevention in low- and middle-income countries. This year, we weren’t just inspired – we were overwhelmed. 288 proposals. Programs in 44 countries. That’s almost five times what we received just last year, an astonishing response that required us to delay our funding decision in order to give each of these submissions the review they deserve, in collaboration with a…
More...22 April, 2024 Update – Update: TogetHER for Health announced the grantees for our 2024-2025 Cervical Cancer Grants Program funding round on August 1st, 2024. Click here to learn more! TogetHER’s Cervical Cancer Grants Program aims to provide small, highly targeted grants addressing demand and supply barriers that prevent access to the life-saving cervical cancer prevention services in low- or middle-income countries (LMICs). These catalytic investments directly improve the lives of girls and women and trigger systemic health improvements such as policy changes, regulatory approvals, and the development of tools and strategies adaptable across the health system. TogetHER is currently accepting submissions from…
More...April 11, 2024 Update: We announced the grantees for our 2024-2025 Cervical Cancer Grants Program funding round on August 1st, 2024. Click here to learn more! Recently announced funding commitments and the launch of new partnerships signal new momentum in the effort to end cervical cancer as a global health threat. If applied effectively, these new resources will make a huge difference in implementing lifesaving cervical cancer prevention programs expanding access to HPV vaccination, cervical screening and early treatment for cervical disease. Maximizing the impact of cervical cancer prevention resources – especially in low-resource settings – hinges on deploying newer, more…
More...March 19, 2024 For TogetHER for Health and others working to make the global elimination of cervical cancer a reality, 2023 represented a year filled with reminders that no single organization will achieve this ambitious goal alone. This spirit of collaboration resulted in exciting developments and the formation of new partnerships and initiatives dedicated to ending this preventable cancer. Learn more in TogetHER’s 2023 Year in Review, summarizing our efforts to change the unacceptable status quo in which far too many women continue to be diagnosed with cervical cancer globally, resulting in 349,000 preventable deaths every year. 2023 saw TogetHER’s…
More...14 March, 2024 On March 5, 2024, during the inaugural Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum, several global partners announced $590 million USD in new financial commitments to further cervical cancer prevention globally. These resources include commitments from the World Bank and the Global Financing Facility (GFF), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and UNICEF. Further commitments made by partner organizations and by countries themselves at the Forum in in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, underscore growing momentum to achieve the targets articulated in the World Health Organization’s global cervical cancer elimination strategy: This commitment to cervical cancer elimination is a watershed…
More...March 4, 2024 For World AIDS Day 2023, AVAC and TogetHER for Health released a joint call to action urging global leadership in expanding access to HPV vaccination for people living with HIV. Low rates of vaccination put this vulnerable population at enhanced risk for cervical cancer. Today on HPV Awareness Day, 29 organizations have joined our efforts in recognition of these interlinked global health emergencies, calling on global bodies to take overdue action to address unacceptably low rates of HPV vaccination in people living with HIV. International HPV Awareness Day marks an opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of preventing,…
More...January 29, 2024 On January 25, 2024, cervical cancer experts, advocates, and survivors gathered at the White House in Washington, D.C. for a Cervical Cancer Forum organized by the Biden Cancer Moonshot team. This event featured a wide array of representatives for both U.S.-focused cervical cancer prevention efforts and global initiatives whose efforts align with the Biden Cancer Moonshot’s two primary goals: to prevent more than 4 million cancer deaths by 2047 and to improve the experience of people who are touched by cancer. Following a panel focused on efforts to prevent and treat cervical cancer in the United States,…
More...TogetHER for Health ended our year counting down our 10 most impactful activities of 2023. Here’s our final list! #10 – Meet TogetHER for Health! In 2023, we launched our new promo video as well as an updated version of our Impact Report! #9 – Staff Spotlights! The team enjoyed giving our stakeholders an opportunity to get to know us a bit better. Links to each of our spotlights can be found on our team page! #8 – Operation Wipe Out Keeps Growing! TogetHER and our other Operation Wipe Out partners worked to build awareness of cervical cancer in Alabama…
More...December 1, 2023 by Mitchell Warren, Executive Director of AVAC, and Heather White, Executive Director of TogetHER for Health. HIV/AIDS and cervical cancer are two global health emergencies that impact millions around the world – and unfortunately, the relationship does not end there. The dire synergy between HIV/AIDS and cervical cancer can be expressed in some startling statistics: Additionally, HIV/AIDS and cervical cancer share many barriers to effective prevention, treatment, and care. Efforts to provide services to address both diseases are beset with social stigma and misinformation. Due to their elevated risk of disease, women living with HIV, and those…
More...November 28, 2023 TogetHER for Health has joined with colleagues from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama’s Department of Public Health, the Rotary Clubs of Birmingham and LaFayette, and a host of other partners to launch Operation Wipe Out, a collaboration aiming to tackle Alabama’s disproportionately high rates of cervical cancer – some of the highest in the United States. Operation Wipe Out has been working tirelessly to engage communities, build a network across public, private, and academic sectors, and make cervical cancer prevention a priority. For a great example, watch our recent video profiling Ms. Linda Hayes, an…
More...November 21, 2023 TogetHER for Health is a proud convener of global organizations which provide lifesaving cervical cancer prevention programs on the ground. Our member network includes many of the most impactful implementing organizations in women’s health across the globe. In fact, our member network’s global footprint spans more than 30 countries worldwide, and we’re thrilled to welcome both the Clinton Health Access Initiative and Grounds for Health as new members this year. As part of our effort to spotlight partners, this week we’re launching a new brief focusing on four of TogetHER’s member organizations – Jhpiego, PATH, Pathfinder International,…
More...16 November, 2023 This week marks the third anniversary of the launch of the Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem by the World Health Organization (WHO). This groundbreaking strategy is built on three pillars, three global scale-up targets which, once achieved, will lead to drastic reductions in the number of women diagnosed with and dying from this preventable cancer: We encourage you to join the global commemoration of this inspiring undertaking as part of WHO’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action. In the meantime, we’d like to present some brief reflections of…
More...In the five-plus years since our founding, TogetHER has prioritized putting a spotlight on the work of our members, the perspectives of leaders and experts in cervical cancer prevention, and on the fantastic work of organizations making strides in reducing the burden of cervical cancer in the most challenging environments. We thought we’d mix it up a bit and shine that spotlight back on ourselves this year, to give our supporters an opportunity to get to know the people behind TogetHER for Health. Enjoy learning more about our Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Kathy Vizas! Tell us something about what…
More...October 11, 2023 The Chambers County School District is excited to be taking a forefront in leadership to build a multi-channel communication campaign to help eliminate cervical cancer across the district. CCSD Superintendent, Dr. Casey Chambley is thrilled to see the District’s partnership with Operation Wipe Out continue to grow with this outreach to support Chambers County. This effort of cooperation resulted with a grant of funding secured from the National Cancer Institute. The school district collaborated with Operation Wipe Out partners to secure the grant to provide education and leadership training for our health science students in the career…
More...30 August, 2023 The Asia Pacific region accounts for 58% of global cervical cancer deaths, and 45% of global breast cancer cases. At current rates, new cervical cancer diagnoses in the region will rise by 18.9% by 2030, with deaths increasing by almost 25%. Breast cancer diagnoses in the region are projected to rise by 20.9% and deaths by 27.8% in that same period. The escalating burden of these two women’s cancers in the Asia Pacific region demands a multisectoral response – and the timing could not be more opportune. The World Health Organization has recently launched targets for the…
More...In the five-plus years since our founding, TogetHER has prioritized putting a spotlight on the work of our members, the perspectives of leaders and experts in cervical cancer prevention, and on the fantastic work of organizations making strides in reducing the burden of cervical cancer in the most challenging environments. We thought we’d mix it up a bit and shine that spotlight back on ourselves this year, to give our supporters an opportunity to get to know the people behind TogetHER for Health. Enjoy learning more about our External Affairs Director, Tom Harmon! What’s your organizational role? I’m responsible for…
More...29 August, 2023 Earlier this year, we proudly announced that Women Together Global is a recipient of our latest funding round under the Cervical Cancer Grants Program. We were excited to support this Women Together Global’s work to build capacity for local community health workers and district hospital staff in Malawi’s Mangochi and Mulanje districts to increase demand for and facilitate access to screening and HPV vaccination. Just days after we announced the award, Malawi was struck by disaster. Cyclone Freddy devastated the country, leaving many in the country without shelter and demolishing critical infrastructure. In the wake of this…
More...August 15, 2023 Meet Linda Hayes, an advocate channeling her experience to educate and inspire her community in Chambers County, Alabama. Linda generously offered to tell her story to our friends at the Moonshine Agency, who came to Alabama to document the efforts of Operation Wipe Out, our partnership seeking to end cervical cancer deaths in the state of Alabama, as an expansion of their brilliant Conquering Cancer campaign highlighting the stories of advocates and experts working to end cervical cancer globally. Please take the time to view this powerful short film and hear from Linda herself about how her…
More...In the five-plus years since our founding, TogetHER has prioritized putting a spotlight on the work of our members, the perspectives of leaders and experts in cervical cancer prevention, and on the fantastic work of organizations making strides in reducing the burden of cervical cancer in the most challenging environments. We thought we’d mix it up a bit and shine that spotlight back on ourselves this year, to give our supporters an opportunity to get to know the people behind TogetHER for Health. Enjoy learning more about our Technical Advisor, Sarah Bowler! What’s your name? Sarah Bowler, but full name…
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