During the discussion session, participants raised questions on the shift to single-dose HPV vaccination, particularly experiences from Cameroon and the potential for countries like Mauritania to transition from two to one dose. Concerns were voiced about vaccine supply constraints and the risk of discouraging countries if revitalization efforts are hindered by shortages. Delegates highlighted the […]
Topic: 1. Disease burden & epidemiology
Cervical cancer disease burden in the region/ HPV related cancers incidence and mortality in Africa
Dr. Biey Nsiari Muzeyi Joseph, WHO focal point for vaccination in West Africa, presented an overview of HPV-related cervical cancer incidence, mortality, and socio-economic impact in Africa. He recalled the 2018 WHO call to action and the 2020 global strategy targeting 90-70-90 goals for vaccination, screening, and treatment by 2030. The presentation highlighted Africa’s disproportionate […]
HPV related disease burden, mortality, social and economic impact – India
Mr. Vishal Chauhan, discussed the country’s response to cervical cancer within the broader noncommunicable disease (NCD) agenda, noting that India records about 80,000 new cervical cancer cases annually, concentrated in states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Bihar. He highlighted major challenges—low screening coverage, inadequate infrastructure, workforce shortages, and financial hardship for patients—while outlining […]
Overview of HPV related disease burden, mortality, social and economic impact – Bangladesh
Dr. Ferdousi Begum presented an overview of the HPV-related cancer burden in Bangladesh, emphasizing cervical cancer as a major public health issue alongside other HPV-linked cancers such as oropharyngeal, penile, and laryngeal cancers. She highlighted that approximately 60 million Bangladeshi women are at risk, with an estimated 8,000–10,000 cervical cancer cases and 5,000–6,000 deaths annually. […]
HPV related disease burden, mortality, social and economic impact – Q&A
The session concluded with an open discussion highlighting key cross‑cutting themes from country presentations: the profound social stigma and poverty linked to cervical cancer, and increasing governmental commitment across South Asia to address the disease. Questions focused on the role of behavioral versus biological risk factors, gaps in cancer registries, and the paradox of low […]
HPV related disease burden, mortality, social and economic impact – Pakistan
Dr. Fauzia Assad highlighted the country’s medium‑to‑high cervical cancer burden, with an estimated 5,000 new cases and 3,000 deaths annually among 68 million women at risk. Pakistan lacks a central cancer registry, national screening program, and formal cervical cancer policy, though political commitment for HPV vaccine introduction is emerging. Screening is limited to opportunistic Pap […]
HPV related disease burden, mortality, social and economic impact – Maldives
Dr. Aminath Nusra (Maldives) described the cervical cancer situation in the Maldives, a small island nation with 563,000 people and no national screening or cancer registry. Current data, mostly from private hospitals and the Cancer Society, indicate very low reported incidence (
HPV related disease burden, mortality, social and economic impact – Sri Lanka
Dr. Suraj Perera (Sri Lanka) presented national data on HPV-related cancers, noting that cervical cancer remains the leading HPV-associated cancer among Sri Lankan women. Using cancer registry data (capturing 90–95% of cases), he showed rising overall cancer incidence, with cervical cancer rates at 9.9 per 100,000 in 2019. Screening is offered twice (ages 35 and […]
HPV related disease burden, mortality, social and economic impact – Nepal
Dr. Murari Man Shrestha (Nepal) presented the status of cervical cancer in Nepal, the leading cancer among women in the country. He described geographic and health‑system challenges—remote terrain, limited diagnostics, and incomplete data—while noting that incidence is likely underreported. Current estimates show over 2,200 annual cases and nearly 1,500 deaths, with high social and economic […]
Cervical cancer prevention and control; global overview on disease burden, WHO elimination goals and tools to achieve these goals
Dr. Cherian Varghese (WHO SEARO) resented a global overview of cervical cancer prevention and control, emphasizing the WHO elimination strategy of “90-70-90” (vaccination, screening, and treatment targets) to reduce incidence below four per 100,000 women. He highlighted the disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries, the promise of single-dose HPV vaccination and self-sampling for screening, […]