home » Success Stories » Cervical Cancer » Global Alliance: Cervical Cancer

Global Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention

Cervical cancer is uncommon in the United States largely due to effective screening programs…

• Yet on a global scale, cervical cancer is still a major cause of death, especially in developing countries where such screening is not routinely performed
• 25,000 women die each year from cervical cancer in Latin America & the Caribbean
• The region has some of the highest incidence rates in the world

Setting Objectives...

With major funding received from the The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, PAHEF supported PAHO/WHO’s work within a global alliance to prevent cervical cancer...

• Develop cost-effective technologies for screening and treatment
• Raise awareness of the importance of screening among women, physicians and policy makers
• Help countries develop effective and sustainable policies and national cervical cancer prevention and treatment programs

Taking Action...

• Developed a new low cost, higher sensitivity screening test (visual inspection with acetic acid [VIA])
• Helped 20 countries to plan national programs for cervical cancer
• Conducting demonstration projects in 3 countries (Peru, El Salvador, and Suriname) that screened and treated 58,000 women
• Developed a prototype information system to ensure better patient follow up
• Created a national training site in Peru.

Getting Results...

• Improved access to cervical cancer health services and human resource training programs reported in 10 countries.
• Screening and treatment rates are on the rise.
• The VIA method followed by immediate cryotherapy treatment for precancerous lesions is the most efficient and effective screening strategy of cervical cancer in low resource settings.
• Two lifetime screens at age 35 years and 40 years results in 70% mortality reduction at $453 per year of life saved.*

We are happy to share with you songs about cervical cancer prevention by professional singer, Ms. Christine Baze. At the June 19, 2007 Congressional Briefing on Cervical Cancer, this cancer survivor shared her personal story with cervical cancer and, through her advocacy group Popsmear, she is spreading the word about the importance of cervical cancer screening.

*Goldie SJ, Gffikin L, Goldhaber-Fiebert JD et al. Cost-effectiveness of cervical-cancer screening in five developing countries. N Engl J Med. 2005: 353(20):2158-2168