Question: ———— vaccine can prevent most cases of cervical cancer if given before a girl or woman is exposed to the virus-
Which of the following can be most suitably filled in blank above to make the sentence meaningful/
a) HIV
b) HPV
c) Vivotif
d) BCG
Answer: (b)
Related Facts:-
- On 17 November 2020 ; WHO launched its Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.
- The strategy outlines three key steps: vaccination, screening and treatment.
- Successful implementation of all three could reduce more than 40% of new cases of the disease and 5 million related deaths by 2050.
- This initiative represents a historic milestone because it marks the first time that 194 countries commit to eliminating cancer following adoption of a resolution at this year’s World Health Assembly.
- Meeting the following targets by 2030 will place all countries on the path toward elimination:
i. 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by 15 years of age
ii. 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by age 35 and again by 45
iii. 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment (90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed).
- HPV vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and can be used for both girls and boys.
- This vaccine can prevent most cases of cervical cancer if given before a girl or woman is exposed to the virus.
- The strategy also stresses that investing in the interventions to meet these targets can generate substantial economic and societal returns.
- An estimated US$ 3.20 will be returned to the economy for every dollar invested through 2050 and beyond.
- This will happen owing to increases in women’s workforce participation.
- The figure rises to US$ 26.00 when the benefits of women’s improved health on families, communities and societies are considered.
- WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that eliminating any cancer would have once seemed an impossible dream.
- He then explained, we now have the cost-effective, evidence-based tools to make that dream a reality.
- He also said that, we can only eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem if we match the power of the tools we have with unrelenting determination to scale up their use globally.
- Cervical cancer is a preventable disease. It is also curable if detected early and adequately treated.
- Yet it is the fourth most common cancer among women globally.
- Without taking additional action, the annual number of new cases of cervical cancer is expected to increase from 570 000 to 700 000 between 2018 and 2030.
- While the annual number of deaths is projected to rise from 311 000 to 400 000. In low- and middle-income countries.
- Its incidence is nearly twice as high and its death rates three times as high as those in high-income countries.
- WHO Assistant Director-General Dr Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela expressed that the huge burden of mortality related to cervical cancer is a consequence of decades of neglect by the global health community.
- She also made it clear that this situation can be reverted, and this can be done through the Critical developments which include-
i. The availability of prophylactic vaccines,
ii. Low-cost approaches to screening.
iii. Treating cervical cancer precursors;
iv. Novel approaches to surgical training.
- Through a shared global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and leaving no-one behind, the countries of the world are forging a new path to ending cervical cancer.
- The strategy is launched at a challenging time of COVID-19 pandemic.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges in following terms-
i. In preventing deaths due to cancer,
ii. Interruption of vaccination, screening and treatment services.
iii. Border closures that reduced the availability of supplies and that prevent the transit of skilled biomedical engineers to maintain equipment;
iv. new barriers preventing women in rural areas from travelling to referral centres for treatment;
v. School closures that interrupt school vaccine programmes.
- Dr. Simelela told WHO request to all countries to ensure that vaccination, screening and treatment can continue safely, with all necessary precautions.
- She said that the fight against cervical cancer is also a fight for women’s rights:
- She explained that the unnecessary suffering caused by this preventable disease reflects the injustices that uniquely affect women’s health around the world.
- The launch is being celebrated with a day of action across the globe, as ministries of health, partners, and cancer advocates engage in activities to improve access to cancer prevention and treatment for girls and women.
By – Rajesh Tripathi