ACS CAN volunteers lobby Congress to end all deaths from cervical cancer
They were there to make a point. And they couldn’t have been more clear. Where you live should not determine if you live.
News
ACS CAN co-hosts meeting at United Nations event to fight global cervical cancer
October 3, 2018
Last week, ACS CAN co-hosted an event to compliment the United Nations (UN) High Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) in New York City to promote its recently launched global cervical cancer effort.
The event brought together leading UN diplomats and public health leaders to launch a call to action to accelerate the global elimination of cervical cancer. The event was also attended by Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan, who gave remarks, and Burkina Faso’s First Lady Sika Bella Kaboré,
Most cases of cervical cancer can be prevented with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine or successfully treated if caught early, but an estimated 266,000 women still die every year from the disease. Ninety percent of these deaths occur in less-developed parts of the world.
“Bringing diplomats, public health experts and other key stakeholders together to collaborate on efforts being made to expand access to HPV vaccinations, screenings and treatment will better align future endeavors aimed at eliminating cervical cancer,” said ACS CAN President Chris Hansen.
In the United States and other developed countries, women can visit their doctor’s office to receive the HPV vaccine or to get a regular pap test. However, in less-developed parts of the world, many women don’t have access to this same type of regular medical care and many youth are not receiving the HPV vaccinations which can prevent cervical cancer.
ACS CAN will be launching an effort to increase the U.S. government engagement in and contribution toward the global effort to eliminate cervical cancer through scaled up HPV vaccination initiatives and the integration of screening and treatment programs in low-income countries.
In addition to ACS CAN and ACS, the Union for International Cancer Control, TogetHER for Health, AdvaMedDx and NCD Alliance cosponsored the well-attended event.
