APAC Women's Cancer Coalition’s Post

Continuing our series of highlighting top opportunities as stated in our impact report published by The Economist titled ‘Impact and Opportunity: The Case of Investing in Women’s Cancer in Asia Pacific’, the next country we will be showcasing is Indonesia. Top opportunities for improvement in Indonesia include introducing a dedicated national elimination plan for cervical cancer and a national strategy for breast cancer in line with World Health Organization (WHO) ambitions and targets: - To aid with the implementation of cancer policy, a national elimination plan for cervical cancer and a national strategy for breast cancer could be established, which include specific targets and goals for prevention (for cervical cancer), screening, diagnosis and treatment. - To support their development, help achieve elimination of cervical cancer and meet WHO numbers for breast cancer, more government priority could be given to women’s cancers as key policy areas, by expanding the fiscal space for these cancers and including implementation and additional services under local budgets. - A national steering committee could be established to operationalize inter-governmental ministry coordination to help drive the national elimination plan for cervical cancer and the national strategy for breast cancer. Another opportunity for improvement in Indonesia would be to expand the coverage of the nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization program for cervical cancer prevention: - Despite programs being in place, coverage of HPV vaccination is extremely low in Indonesia. Improving monitoring systems and implementing vaccination registers are critical for ensuring that high coverage for vaccination is met. - Education on the importance of HPV vaccination for preventing cervical cancer is also key to increasing uptake and alleviating stigma. Momentum will need to continue, to ensure that disruptions to cancer control programs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic do not prevent the expansion and scale-up of the HPV vaccination program across the country. Stay tuned for our next post to learn about more top opportunities for improvement in Indonesia. Jhpiego Roche TogetHER for Health CAPED India Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer (GIAHC) #APACWomensCancerCoalition #CervicalCancer #WomensHealth

Here is why the Scottish study of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and Invasive Cance is a huge deal After reading it ———————- Context 📌 ———————— → Cervical cancer is among the most common cancers in women globally. → The HPV has been identified as a primary causative agent. → The Global prevalence of HPV and its direct link to cervical cancer make this study particularly relevant & significant. ————————- Study Overview 📌 ————————- → The study analyzed the incidence of cervical cancer in Scottish women born between 1988 and 1996. → The focus was on those vaccinated against HPV. → It utilized a comprehensive national health dataset ———————- Key Findings 📌 ———————— → Remarkably, no cervical cancer cases were found in women vaccinated at ages 12-13. → Significant reductions in cancer incidence were also observed in women vaccinated at ages 14-16 and 17-18, compared to unvaccinated women. ————————- Implications 📌 ———————— → The findings highlight the critical importance of early HPV vaccination in preventing cervical cancer. → The study underscores the need for public health strategies to prioritize early and widespread vaccination. → Widespread vaccination could significantly reduce the global burden of cervical cancer. —————— Final thoughts 📌 —————— → The Scottish study marks a significant advancement in our understanding of HPV vaccination's role in cancer prevention. → It offers compelling evidence for policymakers and health practitioners to optimize HPV vaccination programs. → It has the potential to transform global health strategies against cervical cancer. ************************* Do you think it's time for countries to consider adding this to their Expanded Program of Immunization? It's about time Read article here https://lnkd.in/eVyfnzMN #publichealth #globalhealth #vaccineswork

As a public health expert it’s high time our Vaccination program includes vaccination against HPV! Few diseases reflect global inequities as much as cancer of the cervix. Nearly 90% of the deaths in 2018 occurred in low- and middle-income countries. This is where the burden of cervical cancer is greatest, because access to public health services is limited and screening and treatment for the disease have not been widely implemented. An ambitious, concerted and inclusive strategy is needed to guide the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem. Super proud to share that we at Flavum HealthTech have a dedicated outreach vertical to spread awareness and ensure smooth , hassle free delivery of vaccines against HPV with the help of trained Gyneacologists launching very very soon ! Achieving elimination To eliminate cervical cancer, 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. Each country should meet the 90–70–90 targets by 2030 to get on the path to eliminate cervical cancer within the next century. Now is the time to eliminate cervical cancer !

Such an important document, opening opportunities for protection and cancer prevention for the next generations!!

💉Just in! The European Commission's latest recommendations focus on ramping up human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination across member states. HPV causes 5% of global cancers, including #cervicalcancer, with 90,000 cases annually in Europe. Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides highlights the potential to eliminate these cancers with effective vaccines. The proposal includes developing tools to estimate cost-effectiveness and introducing a vaccination rate dashboard by 2024. At the 4PCAN Project, we're dedicated to cancer prevention through collaborative efforts at national, community, and individual levels. Using a multidisciplinary approach and incorporating the European Code Against Cancer, the project aims to develop personalized prevention tools by integrating implementation research, social sciences, behavioural sciences, and advanced technology. #VaccinePrevention #PublicHealthEU 💪🌍 https://lnkd.in/eAPvUFSf

We need to put more emphasis on cancer prevention - read below how. #EUCancerPlan

Did you know that 40% of all cancer cases are preventable? With #EUCancerPlan, we are taking action to support effective cancer prevention strategies that can prevent illness, save lives and reduce suffering. This includes our new initiative today, to address cancers that can be prevented by vaccination, namely cancers caused by Human papillomaviruses (HPV) and the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). To eliminate #cervicalcancer and other cancers caused by HPV, such as certain head and neck cancers, the #EUCancerPlan set a target to significantly improve the vaccine rates for girls and boys in the EU by 2030. The Cancer Plan also aims to ensure access and increased uptake of the HBV vaccination, notably to prevent #livercancer. These vaccines can make a huge difference in preventing certain cancers. However, there is still a long way to go. Data shows that many EU countries are well below the HPV vaccination rates targets. There is also a significant lack of data on HBV vaccination rates. Today’s Recommendation includes actions to improve the situation such as: ➡ Boosting vaccination confidence & uptake ➡ Ensuring that vaccination accessible, including by making it free of charge or fully reimbursable ➡ Increasing awareness of vaccination as a cancer prevention tool Prevention is always better than cure. Vaccination can make a real difference in working towards a future without cancer.  For more information: - Press release: https://lnkd.in/demtgy9F - Factsheet: https://lnkd.in/d_xUMEc4 #WorldCancerDay

Recent updates on #HPV #vaccination for #cervicalcancer cancer. Cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, is mainly caused by persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.[1] Primary prevention includes vaccination to prevent cervical cancer. Evidence from both randomised trials and population-based studies shows that vaccination against #HPV reduces the incidence of cervical pre-cancer. The World Health Organisation (#WHO) has prequalified and widely licensed the bivalent (HPV 16/18), quadrivalent (HPV 6/11/16/18), and nonavalent (HPV 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58) vaccines. Given that HPV 16 and 18 are responsible for the majority of cervical cancers worldwide, all available vaccinations offer protection against these virus types. According to WHO recommendations, girls aged 9-14 years prior to sexual activity are the primary target population for HPV vaccination in order to prevent cervical cancer. WHO recommendations on HPV vaccination for cervical cancer: A 1 or 2-dose schedule for girls aged 9-14 years A 1 or 2-dose schedule for girls and women aged 15-20 years 2 doses with a 6-month interval for women aged >21 years. Priority for vaccinations should be given to those who are immunocompromised or women living with HIV. Immunocompromised patients should receive at least 2 doses and 3 doses, where possible.[2]  India’s first indigenously developed quadrivalent HPV vaccination against cervical cancer received marketing authorisation approval from the Drug Controller General of India. The Union Health Ministry aims to roll out the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer for girls aged 9 to 14 years in the national immunisation programme in June 2023, for which a global tender might be floated in April. Given that the cost has been a significant barrier to increasing HPV vaccination coverage, the affordable and cost-effective HPV vaccine will be a major game changer in preventing cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer prevention by #HPVvaccination: the numbers will prove impressive, so much that Physicians for Informed Consent could no longer deny the incredible impact of such intervention, and continue a narrative against an extremely effective and safe vaccine. South Korea estimated that the current national vaccination program would prevent 4.13% of cervical cancer cases and reduce the age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) by 8.79% in the overall population by 2036-2040. Under the alternative scenario of implementing the nine-valent vaccine, 5.13% of cervical cancer cases could be prevented and the ASR reduced by 10.93% during the same period. In another scenario, expanding the vaccination age to 9-17 years could prevent 10.19% of cervical cancer cases, with the ASR reduced by 18.57% during the same period. When restricted to ages <40 years, the prevention effect was remarkably greater. We predict that the current national HPV program will reduce its incidence by more than 30% between 2036 and 2040 in women aged <40 years.

https://lnkd.in/dyASnHSd Did you know the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that can cause cervical cancer? The good news is, that vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of this preventable cancer! According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Mozambique has made impressive strides in increasing HPV vaccination rates for girls. This is a major public health victory, and we'll explore the strategies Mozambique used to achieve high coverage and the importance of HPV vaccination for girls in preventing cervical cancer. Learn more about this success story and the impact of HPV vaccination