Cervical Cancer Claims One Life Every Two Minutes, UN Says
The United Nations has reiterated that cervical cancer is both preventable and curable if women have proper access to screening, vaccination and timely treatment. In a statement issued on Friday, the UN noted that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, adding that January is observed annually as Cancer Awareness Month to draw attention to prevention and early detection. Cervical cancer is a reproductive cancer that develops in a woman’s cervix and can spread to other parts of the body if not detected and treated early. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 660,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide in 2022, while about 350,000 died from the disease. UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, warned that the illness claims the life of a woman every two minutes. The UN explained that nearly all cases of cervical cancer are linked to infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), a highly common virus transmitted through sexual contact. While most HPV infections clear naturally, persistent infection with certain high-risk types can lead to abnormal cell growth and eventually cancer. Read Also: Arewa Health Promotion Initiative Sensitises Kura Communities on Clean Water and Sanitation UN Slashes 2025 Humanitarian Aid Appeal Amid Deepest Funding Cuts on Record 18,000 benefit from Mangal’s free Eye care in Katsina The WHO stressed that cervical cancer remains one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer when detected early and managed effectively. However, unequal access to prevention, screening and treatment continues to drive higher rates of infection and death in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and Southeast Asia. To address the challenge, 194 countries in 2020 launched a global strategy aimed at eliminating cervical cancer. November 17 now marks World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day. The WHO said the strategy outlines three key targets to be achieved by 2030: vaccinating 90 per cent of girls against HPV by age 15; screening 70 per cent of women with high-performance tests by ages 35 and 45; and ensuring that 70 per cent of women diagnosed with cervical disease receive appropriate treatment. The organisation estimated that achieving these targets could prevent 74 million new cases of cervical cancer and avert 62 million deaths globally by the year 2120.
