Launch of WHO global strategy

Seventeenth November 2020 marks a historic milestone, with the World Health Organization (WHO) officially launching its global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem , targeting the period 2020-2030. This is the first time the world has committed to eliminate a cancer. As WHO has observed “Cervical Cancer is a preventable and curable disease as long as it is detected early and managed effectively”.

The Rotary Club of Colombo, in the second phase of its 15 year Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Project, launched its Cervical Cancer Elimination Project in 2019 in partnership with the Ministry of Health . Today, to commemorate the November 2020 WHO formal launch landmark, monuments in the capital, namely Colombo Town Hall and other prominent landmarks will be illuminated in the colour teal to depict cervical cancer awareness. This would be a display of solidarity by Sri Lanka with a historic global commitment to eliminate cervical cancer, and will be showcased globally as part of the WHO event , accompanied by the illumination of iconic monuments in various regions of the world. Today’s launch of the WHO strategy , gives impetus to the far reaching Rotary initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Health to fight cervical cancer, with the challenging goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030,

While local and global events , primarily the Covid-19 pandemic, delayed the launch of this life saving project , it is now targeted for early 2021 with the installation and commissioning of advanced technology HPV DNA screening equipment for early detection of cervical cancer , located regionally to reach out to areas with low coverage. This would be simultaneously accompanied by relevant capacity building of healthcare personnel focussing on behavioural change, and publicity campaign to build social awareness. Two buses for mobile screening would also be made available to facilitate greater reach to target high risk groups in the interior areas. This major project is funded with a global grant from The Rotary Foundation together with a number of Rotary Clubs across the world , and project partner Rotary Club of Birmingham ,Al, USA.

The strategy adopted by WHO in 2020 is reflected in the approach taken by the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka in partnership with Rotary, of targeting elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem through 3 main pillars-Prevention through HPV vaccination , which will be taken on by the Ministry of Health, and which offers long term protection against cervical cancer. Rotary’s involvement would be in the facilitation of screening and early detection of cervical cancer in the 35 and 45 year old females, thus enabling early detection and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions which would prevent a pre cancer developing into a cancer. The third pillar would be the treatment for those diagnosed with invasive cancer , which could save those lives, while palliative care would address the pain and suffering and aim at mitigating this. Rotary’s ongoing partnership of over 15 years with National Cancer Control Programme of the Ministry of Health , focussing on screening and early detection and prevention of breast cancer and cervical cancer , motivated Rotary, with this long experience, to come forward, and focus on cervical cancer – being preventable , and curable if detected early and treated.

The WHO strategy targets 90% of girls to be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine before the age of 15 years, with a target of 70% of women being screened using a high performance test at 35 years and again at 45 years , and 90% of women identified with cervical cancer to receive treatment(both pre cancer and invasive cancer). In this respect Sri Lanka is on the right path with the HPV vaccination of 10 year old girls already close to the target. The well structured healthcare system in Sri Lanka effectively facilitates reaching the target group for screening and early detection of cervical cancer , which, with the support from Rotary, would address the present low coverage, and target an increase upto 70-80% coverage. With results being measurable and monitoring and evaluation systems being upgraded , including population based cancer registries , such a focussed strategy spearheaded by the Govt of Sri Lanka in partnership with Rotary, would make elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem an achievable goal.

WHO states in its communique launching its strategy , ” Cervical cancer stands as one of the world’s greatest failures, but through strong action and aligned intervention, elimination is within reach for all countries. The technology and tools exist to prevent this disease , along with proven measures for early diagnosis and treatment”.

Rotary, in partnership with the Ministry of Health is focussed on this challenging and lifesaving goal which will be a historic milestone in disease prevention. In the words of WHO Director General, “We can eliminate cervical cancer and make it a disease of the past”.